EU Crypto Regulation Bars Belarusian Control Over European Firms

The European Union has expanded its crypto regulation to bar Belarusian control of European crypto service providers. The restriction covers exchanges, transfers, advice, and portfolio management.

Council Decision (Common Foreign and Security Policy) 2026/1847 extended the restriction across the bloc from Aug. 25. This decision amended the bloc's Belarus sanctions framework on July 23, linking the measures to Belarus's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine.

The ban prohibits Belarusian nationals and residents from owning or controlling covered European entities, as well as holding positions on those firms' governing bodies. The revised text covers entities providing services defined under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, commonly called MiCA regulation.