Central Bank Bans Banks and Credit Institutions From Offering Online Gold Trading

In circular No. 175671 dated 13 Mehr 1405 (October 5, 2026), the Central Bank of Iran told the banking network that any online gold buying and selling service offered by credit institutions, whether directly or in partnership and including through digital units, is "absolutely prohibited". Mehr News Agency published the circular's text today, Saturday, 18 Mehr 1405 (October 10, 2026).

The central bank explained that online gold trading allows rial funds to be converted quickly into a store of value and can provide a channel for layering and concealing the origin of money. It said low minimum purchase amounts and the ability to make many online trades raise the risk of structured micro-transactions designed to evade anti-money-laundering controls. An institution involved in such services must stop them completely, failing which supervisory and disciplinary action will be taken against the bank and its managers.

Arzdigital, citing Shafaghna, reported that Hamed Haghbayan, who heads the legal fintech group at the central bank, said the decision was taken because of serious operational risks at one online gold-selling platform and the chance of contagion to the banking network. The same report says users of Blu Bank Saman had said since last week that gold purchases in the app were disabled and that they can now only sell gold already held in their accounts.