Internet Outage in Iran: Exploring Crypto Options Amid Protests

Protests erupted across Iran in response to deteriorating economic conditions as the rial’s value dipped to unprecedented lows against the dollar.

Internet Access Cut

On Thursday, the Iranian government systematically cut internet access as unrest grew, leading many to question how citizens can participate in cryptocurrency transactions.

Approximately seven million of Iran’s 92 million population are estimated to use cryptocurrencies, according to Statista. TRM Labs reported about $3.7 billion in total crypto flows in Iran from January through July of 2025.

As protests escalated due to the economic crisis and the rial’s significant decline, some analysts, such as Hunter Horsley, CEO of Bitwise, have proposed that Bitcoin could serve as a safeguard for wealth.

News Source: Cloudflare Radar

Crypto Use Without Service

Without internet access, Iranians face significant hurdles in using cryptocurrency, but some existing technologies might help.

Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet could provide a solution by delivering high-speed internet even to previously underserved areas. There have been pleas for Musk to enable Starlink in Iran, as he did during a previous service outage in June 2025, with unverified claims suggesting a positive response.

Blockstream, known for its Bitcoin infrastructure, offers satellite services that can transmit Bitcoin information worldwide without needing internet access.

Innovative users have discovered that the Bitchat messaging service, created by Jack Dorsey, can transmit Bitcoin transaction data over a Bluetooth mesh network, though internet connection is ultimately needed for on-chain confirmation.

Emerging Offline Crypto Solutions

Several promising offline crypto applications are underway. Darkwire, developed by the pseudonymous Cyb3r17, utilizes long-range radio for a decentralized network that can handle Bitcoin transactions without the internet.

Conversely, the tool Machankura, devised by South African developer Kgothatso Ngako in 2022, enables phone users to conduct Bitcoin transactions via mobile telecom. This methodology is further explored in a report by Forbes.