**[Galaxy Research Director: Controversy Surrounds Iran's Use of Bitcoin for Hormuz Strait Toll Payments]** According to a report by Golden Finance, on April 11, Galaxy Research Director Alex Thorn published a detailed analysis on the X platform, stating that reports about Iran requiring ships to pay tolls for the Hormuz Strait in Bitcoin have yet to be fully verified. Previously, the Financial Times claimed that Iran planned to charge $1 per barrel of oil as a toll fee and demanded payment in Bitcoin. However, conflicting information has emerged. Bloomberg reported that the fees might be settled in stablecoins or Chinese yuan, while research institution Citrini Research pointed out that some ships completed payments by unfreezing Iran's overseas assets. Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs also stated that there is currently no evidence indicating that cryptocurrencies are being widely used for such toll payments. Alex Thorn believes that if Bitcoin is indeed being used for toll payments, its censorship-resistant payment capabilities would offer certain advantages. However, the claim that "fast payments enhance privacy" is not entirely accurate unless second-layer solutions like the Lightning Network are employed. Additionally, considering that single toll payments could range from $200,000 to $2 million, large-scale on-chain or Lightning Network payments may face practical limitations. Alex Thorn revealed that Galaxy Research plans to conduct cross-analysis using ship AIS data and on-chain transactions to determine whether Bitcoin transactions of corresponding scales exist. Overall, while there is historical precedent for Iran utilizing crypto assets for cross-border transactions, the claim that "Bitcoin is being used for toll payments" still requires further verification.