Starlink Enters Iran: A 'Digital Oil' Struggle in Geopolitical Games
【News】Trump's envoy Grenell publicly called out Musk on June 21: “Free Starlink access to Iran in two weeks, I’ll lead the donations!” The core demand is simple: use satellite internet to break through Iran's information blockade, allowing 'friends' to connect to the outside internet.
The Truth Behind the Internet Shutdown: After Israel's airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13, the Iranian government directly 'cut the internet nationwide,' halving internet traffic by 50%. The official reason was 'to prevent cyber attacks,' but in reality, it was to block the public from organizing.
The 'Dark Move' of Starlink: Musk tweeted as early as June 14, “The beams are on,” quietly activating services in Iran. Currently, over 20,000 terminals are on the black market, with prices in Tehran soaring to $1,600 per set.
【Technical Aspect】: The 'Atomic Bomb Level' Breakthrough of Decentralized Networks
User Ecosystem Growing Wildly:
By early 2025, the number of Starlink users in Iran has exceeded 100,000+, with apartment buildings collectively crowdfunding to share costs, forming 'underground network nodes.'
Smuggling routes for terminals: Iraqi Kurdish region → Iran border, with a monthly penetration rate exceeding 3,000 terminals.
When Tech Giants Collide with National Sovereignty
US-Iran Game Escalates:
Grenell's call is essentially an 'official endorsement,' aiming to replicate the Ukrainian model, elevating civilian technology to 'strategic weapons.'
Iran's Countermeasures: Qualifying Starlink as 'smuggled weapons,' with revolutionary courts imposing heavy sentences on users; accelerating domestic 'Dawn' satellite plans, and tightening ties with China's BeiDou navigation system.
Musk's 'Computing Power Dilemma':
Operating Costs: 100,000 users annually consume $600 million, making a free model unsustainable.
Legal Minefield: Violating US technology export controls against Iran could lead to 'secondary sanctions backlash.'
Crypto Perspective: Alpha Opportunities Amidst Geopolitical Chaos
The Iranian rial's black market exchange rate has plummeted by 45% this year, with stablecoins becoming hard currency for civilian cross-border payments.
If Starlink becomes widespread, on-chain transaction volume will surge, with an OTC corridor between Iran and Turkey already showing premiums.
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