EU Cracks Down on Crypto Platforms Helping Russia Evade Sanctions

The European Union has introduced new measures to restrict crypto platforms in third countries that enable Russia to bypass EU sanctions. This move is part of the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia, which was adopted on July 23, 2026.

The new mechanism allows the EU to prohibit transactions between EU operators and targeted crypto providers in jurisdictions that repeatedly fail to prevent crypto services from helping Russia evade sanctions.

The measure specifically targets platforms in third countries that have been linked to repeated instances of sanctions evasion. The EU can now block transactions with crypto-asset service providers established in listed third countries, giving it a broader tool to target crypto platforms involved in sanctions circumvention.