sanctions

According to the official website of the Council of the European Union, the EU officially passed the 20th round of sanctions against Russia in 2026, which is also the largest sanction package in two years, adding 120 individuals and entities to the list, and applying comprehensive pressure from multiple dimensions including energy, finance, military industry, and trade.In the field of cryptocurrency, given Russia's increasing reliance on cryptocurrency for international settlements under financial sanctions, the EU has implemented a comprehensive industry ban on cryptocurrency asset transfers and trading platforms within Russia. Additionally, it has sanctioned a platform in Kyrgyzstan that supports the government-backed stablecoin A7A5 and prohibited transactions related to the cryptocurrency RUBx as well as all support from the EU for the development of the digital ruble.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Treasury is sanctioning multiple wallets related to Iran and will track and combat all financial lifelines associated with the regime.Tether previously announced that it had assisted the U.S. government in freezing $344 million worth of cryptocurrency in two addresses. Chainalysis data shows that the activity patterns of these wallets are consistent with the on-chain fund flow characteristics of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps wallets.U.S. officials stated that blockchain analysis revealed that the relevant funds were traded through intermediary addresses linked to the Iranian central bank's wallets to evade sanctions and facilitate international trade.By 2025, Iran's cryptocurrency holdings are expected to reach $7.8 billion, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps holding approximately 50% of that in the fourth quarter of last year.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Cambodian Senator Kok An, accusing him of controlling "fraud parks" across the country, defrauding American victims through cryptocurrency investment scams.According to a statement released by OFAC on Thursday, in addition to Kok An, 28 other individuals and entities have been added to the sanctions list, all believed to be connected to his fraud network. This network is accused of luring victims into sending cryptocurrency assets under the guise of "high return investments." This action follows a raid by Cambodian police on two scam centers in the border city of Poipet. Previously, Kok An had been accused of operating scam bases in the area. OFAC stated that scammers typically gain victims' trust by establishing "friendships" or "romantic relationships," then guide them to participate in so-called cryptocurrency investment platforms, thereby defrauding them of funds, with the total amount involved reaching millions of dollars.It is noteworthy that some individuals involved in the scam activities are themselves victims of human trafficking, forced to engage in illegal activities under threats of violence. OFAC pointed out that these scam centers are often located in casinos or repurposed office parks, used not only for money laundering but also as bases for defrauding American citizens and committing human rights violations. Additionally, regulators have simultaneously shut down over 500 fraudulent website domains used for cryptocurrency investment scams, indicating that the U.S. crackdown on related criminal activities is intensifying.

According to Jayati Ghosh, an economics professor at the University of Manchester, in an article for the Bangkok Post, the Trump administration has vigorously promoted the deregulation of cryptocurrencies and has advocated for dollar-pegged stablecoins through the GENIUS Act, while refusing to develop central bank digital currencies. However, this series of policies is producing a self-destructive effect: by 2025, illegal cryptocurrency trading volume is expected to increase by over 160% year-on-year, with countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea using cryptocurrencies to massively evade U.S. economic sanctions.Among them, Iran has introduced cryptocurrencies into the toll collection system of the Strait of Hormuz, with daily revenues estimated to reach up to $36 million; Russia, on the other hand, is using cryptocurrency exchanges to bypass asset freeze orders and fund military procurement.

Alex Thorn, the research director at Galaxy Digital, posted on the X platform that the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list (SDN list) has historically involved 518 Bitcoin addresses, which have received a total of 249,814 BTC and sent 239,708 BTC, currently holding a net of about 9,306 BTC, worth approximately $707 million at current market prices.Thorn also stated that OFAC sanctions are only one of the means by which the U.S. intercepts illegal assets, and the CLARITY Act will further expand the Treasury's relevant powers.

According to Cointelegraph, Kaitlin Martin, a senior intelligence analyst at Chainalysis, stated that shipping companies that may use cryptocurrency payments for transit fees to Iran could face serious sanction risks.Under the current sanctions framework, any payments made to the Iranian regime, including those related to key waterways, could be interpreted as "material support," putting companies at risk of violating U.S. and international restrictions.There have been previous reports that Iran may seek to collect transit fees in the form of cryptocurrency. Although not officially confirmed, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he would not accept any attempts by Tehran to impose tolls on shipping passing through this important waterway.

According to CoinDesk, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will jointly issue proposed rules requiring stablecoin issuers to establish a comprehensive anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance system. Specific measures include freezing, intercepting, and rejecting suspicious transactions, as well as complying with the relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act.The rules emphasize an outcome-oriented approach, believing that financial institutions understand their own risks best. Issuers that establish a sound compliance system are typically exempt from enforcement actions. This move aims to implement the GENIUS Act passed last year, which is expected to take full effect in 2027.

According to CoinDesk, the U.S. Treasury is set to release proposed rules requiring stablecoin issuers to establish standards to combat money laundering and sanctions violations.According to a summary of the proposal obtained by CoinDesk, the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will jointly formulate rules that clarify how issuers can comply with the GENIUS Act passed last year, including establishing controls to block, freeze, and reject suspicious transactions. FinCEN will require issuers' anti-money laundering programs to be able to pause flagged transactions and focus more resources on high-risk customers and activities.When U.S. authorities pursue specific targets, regulated issuers must screen their records for activities related to flagged individuals or entities. OFAC requires issuers to operate risk-based sanctions compliance safeguards in both primary and secondary markets, identifying and rejecting transactions that may violate U.S. sanctions regulations. The proposal emphasizes respect for the industry, believing that financial institutions are best aware of their own money laundering and terrorist financing risks, and companies that maintain appropriate anti-money laundering measures typically do not face enforcement actions.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that these measures will protect the U.S. financial system from national security threats while not hindering the development of U.S. businesses in the stablecoin ecosystem. The proposal will enter a public comment period and may be revised before finalization.

According to Jinshi reports, Trump stated that the United States will work closely with Iran, and we have determined that Iran has undergone a highly effective regime change! Uranium enrichment activities will be prohibited, and the United States will cooperate with Iran to excavate and remove all deeply buried nuclear "dust" (dropped by B-2 bombers).Now and always, these areas have been under extremely strict satellite surveillance (the Space Force is responsible for monitoring). Since the day of the attack, everything has remained untouched. We are and will continue to discuss tariff and sanction relief matters with Iran. Many items in the 15 o'clock content have already been agreed upon.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Home Office jointly announced sanctions against the illegal cryptocurrency market Xinbi and individuals related to Southeast Asian scam networks. According to data from blockchain analysis company Chainalysis, Xinbi processed over $19.9 billion in transactions from 2021 to 2025, involving illegal activities such as money laundering, unlicensed over-the-counter trading, and the sale of stolen personal data. The UK is the first country in the world to impose sanctions on Xinbi.The sanctions also involve the operator of the Cambodian "#8 Park" scam base, Legend Innovation Co., and its head Eang Soklim, who is believed to be holding up to 20,000 trafficked workers. Meanwhile, multiple properties in London have been frozen, with previously seized assets including an office building valued at £100 million, two luxury homes, and a helicopter. UK officials stated that this action aims to cut off the financial infrastructure of the scam networks and will promote broader international coordinated cooperation at the illegal finance summit in June this year.

Mohsen Rezaei, the new military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, emphasized in an interview released by Iranian state television on March 23 that Iran will not stop the war until it receives all compensations, all economic sanctions are lifted, and it obtains international legal guarantees against U.S. interference in Iranian affairs.Rezaei also stressed that the dispute between Iran and the U.S. is not only about the current conflict or last year's attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, but has been ongoing for 47 years since the victory of the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979, and it must be "brought to an end."

According to the "News" report, the Central Bank of Russia has submitted a proposal to the government to allow digital financial assets (ЦФА) to circulate in open networks such as Ethereum, with a related legal draft planned to be released in the summer of 2026.This initiative aims to attract foreign capital from Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America in the context of sanctions, and to promote cross-border settlements. The Russian ЦФА market has grown from 44 billion rubles to 1.5 trillion rubles over the past three years, but it is still primarily driven by domestic demand. Analysts expect that if the relevant regulations are implemented, the market size could reach 12 to 13 trillion rubles by 2030.

According to Cointelegraph, three Democratic senators from the United States have stated that they will oversee the Justice Department's alleged investigation into Binance for violating sanctions related to Iran. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, and Ruben Gallego said in a joint statement that they will conduct oversight to ensure the Justice Department investigates Binance and holds it accountable for any wrongdoing.The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the Justice Department is investigating whether Iran may have used Binance to evade sanctions. The senators stated that Binance has a documented history of prioritizing profits over the law, raising serious concerns about the company potentially violating U.S. sanctions laws again and funding activities related to terrorist organizations linked to Iran. Binance previously responded that it was unaware of any investigation but has been cooperating with regulatory and law enforcement agencies to investigate the facts. Binance has filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a February article by The Wall Street Journal, claiming it constitutes defamation.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against 6 individuals and 2 entities, accusing them of participating in a fraud scheme orchestrated by North Korea involving IT workers, with proceeds used to fund North Korean weapons programs.The sanctioned entities include the North Korean company Amnokgang Technology Development Company and the Vietnamese company Quangvietdnbg International Services Company Limited, whose CEO Nguyen Quang Viet is accused of laundering $2.5 million for the network through cryptocurrency. Do Phi Khanh, Hoang Van Nguyen, Yun Song Guk, Hoang Minh Quang, and York Louis Celestino Herrera are also sanctioned for their alleged involvement in the network. The fraud network operates in North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Spain.The sanctions freeze all assets of the aforementioned individuals and entities in the U.S. and prohibit them from engaging in any financial transactions or business dealings with the United States. OFAC will also add 21 cryptocurrency addresses on the Ethereum and Tron networks to the sanctions list. Chainalysis stated that the North Korean IT worker fraud scheme relies on stolen identities and fabricated identity information to secure positions in global companies and may implant malware in company networks to steal sensitive information.

According to Cointelegraph, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global anti-money laundering regulatory body, has released a new report indicating that offshore virtual asset service providers (oVASP) pose risks of money laundering, sanctions evasion, and other illegal financial activities.The report points out that some offshore cryptocurrency companies exploit differences in regulatory and supervisory coverage, making it difficult for authorities to effectively monitor transactions and enforce anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing regulations. As many offshore crypto businesses operate across multiple jurisdictions, such as differing locations for company registration, infrastructure, and customers, regulators find it challenging to clarify regulatory responsibilities, which also limits international cooperation.FATF recommends that countries require offshore companies providing services to register or obtain licenses, even if they operate abroad, and strengthen cross-border regulatory and law enforcement cooperation. Additionally, FATF has previously warned that peer-to-peer stablecoin transactions and non-custodial wallets may undermine AML regulation, necessitating national-level risk assessments and the establishment of protective mechanisms.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Iran's use of Binance to evade sanctions, focusing on funds flowing through the platform to support terrorist networks.Insiders revealed that this investigation stems from an internal probe by Binance regarding over $1 billion in Iranian-related funds.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating how Iran is using the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, to evade U.S. sanctions.The report cites company documents and sources familiar with the matter, stating that an internal investigation at Binance into over $1 billion in suspicious fund flows was halted. These funds were funneled through the platform to a network that finances Iran-backed terrorist organizations, including the Houthi movement in Yemen. The investigation focuses on the flow of the relevant funds on Binance and its compliance risks.

Trump said at a press conference on Monday that the United States will temporarily lift some oil-related sanctions to ensure adequate oil supply and lower oil prices. Trump also stated that the increase in oil prices has not reached the level of severity he was concerned about.Trump said, "We have imposed sanctions on some countries. We will lift these sanctions before navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is restored." However, he did not provide specific details. Last week, the United States issued a 30-day temporary waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil currently stranded at sea to India, in an effort to ease pressure on the global oil market.

According to CoinDesk, Chainalysis' latest report shows that in 2025, cryptocurrency-related illegal activities linked to sanctions surged, with sanctioned entities receiving at least $104 billion in cryptocurrency, a 700% increase from 2024, driving the total illegal on-chain transaction volume for the year to $154 billion.Countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which are under U.S. and European sanctions, are integrating cryptocurrency into their national financial strategies to circumvent the traditional banking system. The report specifically notes that the ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5 is a primary channel for sanctioned Russian enterprises, processing $93.3 billion in transactions in less than a year, serving as a settlement avenue for cross-border trade by sanctioned Russian companies.This token is associated with the exchanges Grinex and Meer, having processed billions of dollars in transactions before being sanctioned by the U.S. and Europe. A7A5 also offers "instant exchange" services, allowing tokens to be converted into mainstream U.S. dollar stablecoins with minimal KYC checks, having processed over $2.2 billion in transactions to date, effectively enabling sanctioned entities to enter the broader crypto economy.Addresses linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran account for over 50% of the value received by Iranian services, transferring over $3 billion in funds. North Korea remains the largest actor in cyber theft, stealing over $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025. Stablecoins currently account for about 84% of illegal transaction volume.