EU Sanctions Crypto Exchange HTX Over Alleged Russia Ties
The European Union has added cryptocurrency exchange HTX to its sanctions list for allegedly helping Russian users evade restrictions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
HTX, formerly known as Huobi, was included among 14 companies providing cryptocurrency services that the EU said had helped Russian users bypass sanctions. The exchange does not have an asset freeze, but it is subject to a transaction ban, meaning EU operators are barred from transacting with it.
The latest sanctions package targets banks, cryptocurrency networks, oil traders, Russia's shadow fleet and energy revenues. HTX's inclusion shows that authorities are extending enforcement beyond individual wallets and smaller payment providers toward platforms capable of processing substantial cross-border transaction volumes.
The EU action follows a UK sanction imposed on HTX in May as part of a package targeting what British authorities described as shadow financial systems supporting Russia's war economy. An HTX spokesperson said regulatory compliance remains the exchange's top priority, and it proactively monitors and adheres to regulatory frameworks worldwide.