A seized tanker caught spoofing its GPS signal allegedly made stops in Iran and Venezuela—two nations under heavy sanctions. The vessel reportedly disabled tracking systems to mask movements, raising questions about how sanctioned entities move value across borders. Some analysts point to crypto rails as a potential workaround: digital assets can bypass traditional banking choke points. Whether this ship's cargo involved crypto settlement remains unconfirmed, but the pattern fits a broader trend. Sanctioned regimes increasingly explore blockchain-based trade finance to dodge SWIFT restrictions. As enforcement tightens, expect more cat-and-mouse games between regulators and those leveraging decentralized payment networks.