Topic: #sanctions
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UK sanctions three crypto exchanges and two payment platforms over Russia links
The UK's FCDO sanctioned three crypto exchanges and two payment platforms suspected of helping Russian entities evade sanctions, saying two facilitated A7 network transactions; Chainalysis found TokenSpot, Grinex and Meer got over $308M from one HTX deposit address.
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Japan adds Russian crypto exchange Garantex to asset-freeze list in Russia sanctions
Japan placed Russian crypto exchange Garantex on its asset-freeze list on Friday as part of expanded Russia sanctions that also cover 33 organizations, nine individuals and 35 shadow-fleet vessels.
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Russia's Finance Ministry pays some staff wages in digital rubles for first time
Russia's Finance Ministry said some employees received wages in the central bank's digital ruble for the first time, a voluntary scheme that began Oct. 1, though it didn't disclose participants or payroll totals.
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US designates Russia's A7 Network a criminal group, targets A7A5 ruble token
OFAC designated Russia's A7 Network a significant transnational criminal organization, and FinCEN proposed barring transfers tied to its front companies, a rule that would also reach crypto exchanges.
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A7 denies Iran links after US Treasury sanctions Russian payments network
A7 denied ties to Iran and terrorist groups a day after the US Treasury designated the Russia-linked payments network a transnational criminal organization, as FinCEN proposed a rule targeting its sub-agents.
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Tether's USDT used by 84% of Iran-linked sanctioned wallets, Senate Democratic report says
A Democratic staff report released by Sen. Richard Blumenthal says 84% of 846 Iran-linked sanctioned wallets transacted mainly in USDT. Blumenthal asked Treasury and DOJ to investigate Tether.
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Tether says it helped freeze nearly $550M in Iran-linked USDT in 2026
Tether said Monday it helped authorities freeze nearly $550 million in Iran-linked USDT this year, as Senate Democratic investigators alleged the stablecoin had become a key channel for Iranian sanctions evasion.
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Senate finds Iran used $507M in Tether to evade sanctions
A US Senate investigation found that Iran's Central Bank accumulated at least $507 million in Tether's USDT stablecoin to evade international sanctions, prompting formal records demands and a broader government crackdown dubbed Operation Economic Fury.
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Iran crypto mining drains 14% of summer grid deficit, Majlis warns
Iran's Majlis Research Center found that cryptocurrency mining operations consume 930–1,200 megawatts of electricity, representing roughly 14% of the country's power deficit during peak summer months and draining $1.5 billion annually in diesel fuel costs.
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Prosecutors target $61M in crypto tied to Iranian oil laundering via Binance
Manhattan federal prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture complaint on September 14 seeking to seize approximately $61 million in cryptocurrency allegedly funneled through Binance accounts operated by Hong Kong entities and linked to black-market Iranian oil sales and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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Orlen loses $400M in Venezuelan oil scheme routed through crypto
Poland's state oil refiner Orlen lost approximately $400 million in a failed crude purchase from Venezuela, with money converted to cryptocurrency and routed through Dubai intermediaries. Three former executives face charges of negligent supervision.
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U.S. sanctions Iraqi oil trader Omid Haji Ahmad for Iranian smuggling
The U.S. has designated Omid Haji Ahmad to its sanctions lists for allegedly facilitating Iran's oil trade through deceptive cargo practices, part of broader enforcement efforts to restrict financial flows supporting Iran's nuclear ambitions.
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Ukraine strikes Russia's shadow fleet, escalating Black Sea energy crisis
Ukraine's Operation MoLoChKa has targeted 285 Russian tankers evading sanctions, prompting Moscow to intensify strikes on Ukrainian ports. The escalation threatens global energy and grain supplies while killing civilians.
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US Dollar Rallies on Bessent Iran Sanctions Announcement
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sweeping sanctions cutting Iran off from the global financial system, triggering a 0.2% rally in the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index and the dollar's strongest session against Group of 10 currencies in two weeks.
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US Treasury sanctions Iranian firms accepting Bitcoin for Hormuz passage
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two Iranian firms on Wednesday, including HormuzSafe Marine Services Authority, which accepts Bitcoin and other digital assets to bypass Western sanctions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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U.S. Treasury Sanctions Iran Bitcoin Insurance Scheme for Strait of Hormuz
The Treasury Department designated two Iranian firms behind a maritime insurance operation that accepted bitcoin and other digital assets, describing the arrangement as extortion tied to IRGC-backed shipping controls.
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Senate passes bipartisan bill for 100% tariffs on Russian energy
A bipartisan group of US senators agreed on legislation that would authorize tariffs as high as 100% on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, while extending sanctions against Iran through 2031. The bill also aims to close loopholes in Russia's shadow fleet and delayed progress on crypto regulation.
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Russia's Crypto Law Heads to Final Votes Tuesday
Russia's State Duma takes its final two votes on a landmark cryptocurrency bill that would license exchanges, cap retail investors at roughly $3,800 annually, and allow companies to pay foreign partners in Bitcoin and Ethereum to circumvent Western sanctions.
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Clarity Act is sanctions-enforcement tool, not loophole: TRM Labs
Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy at TRM Labs, argues the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act contains robust anti-money laundering and sanctions provisions, directly countering Senator Elizabeth Warren's assertion that it enables evasion.
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A7A5 Russian stablecoin claims $34.4B volume, but analysts say it's inflated
A7A5, a sanctioned Russian ruble stablecoin, claims $34.4 billion in processing volume since January, but blockchain analysts say the token's actual activity is far lower and falling sharply, with circular transactions artificially inflating the figures.
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Tether Freezes $1.4M USDT in 131 TRON Wallets Linked to ISIS-K
Tether froze over $1.4 million in USDT across 131 TRON wallets designated by the US Treasury as linked to ISIS-K, acting within hours of the sanctions order. The action underscores stablecoin issuers' role in enforcing global financial compliance.
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US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Nine-Day Suspension
The United States resumed physical dollar shipments to Iraq on May 1 after a nine-day suspension tied to pressure over Iran-backed militias. The cash freeze blocked roughly $500 million in deliveries, highlighting how Washington weaponizes economic leverage without formal sanctions.
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Iran and US establish direct communication channel after Doha talks
Iran and the US concluded indirect technical discussions in Doha and agreed to establish a dedicated communication channel to manage regional disputes. The development may reshape crypto's role in sanctions evasion and international trade frameworks.
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EU unblocks €6.6B Ukraine aid, proposes 21st sanctions package on Russian crypto
The EU confirmed €6.6 billion in military funding for Ukraine after Hungary lifted its veto, while simultaneously proposing its 21st sanctions package to target Russian banks and crypto platforms facilitating sanctions evasion.