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Blockchain forensics firm finds millions in sanctioned crypto wallet
15.3.2022
Elliptic has discovered a dubious crypto wallet with “significant crypto-asset holdings” in the millions of dollars
Japanese Crypto Exchanges Told to Block Sanctioned Russians’ Crypto Transactions
14.3.2022
Japan’s top financial regulator, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), and the Ministry of Finance have told domestic crypto exchanges to suspend all transactions with Russians and Belarusians who have been hit with international sanctions.
Per Nikkei and Reuters, Tokyo is moving “in line with...
Chainalysis Launches Screening Tools Designed to Prevent Sanctions Evasion
11.3.2022
Blockchain forensics company Chainalysis is launching two tools that will allow crypto companies to deny sanctioned persons and entities access to their platforms. The move comes amid concerns that Russia may use cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions imposed due to its invasion of Ukraine....
Bitfinex refuses to freeze crypto belonging to non-sanctioned Russians
11.3.2022
The crypto community stands up for the rights of ordinary Russians amid hundreds of businesses leaving the country, but the final decision is up to regulators
Report: Estonian Prime Minister Calls for Restriction of Cryptocurrencies
10.3.2022
The Prime Minister of Estonia has said cryptocurrencies must be restricted in order to address loopholes that may be used by sanctioned Russian entities to evade the punitive measures. In addition, the premier wants all Russian as well as Belarusian banks to be removed from the global payment...
Report: LBMA Asks 6 Russian Gold Refiners if They Have Ties to Sanctioned Entities
7.3.2022
The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) said it wants six accredited Russian gold refiners to clarify if they have commercial ties with sanctioned Russian entities. The association’s request comes a few days after it revoked the membership of three sanctioned Russian banks. LBMA...
Report: Official Says Switzerland May ‘Target’ Crypto Assets Belonging to Sanctioned Russians
7.3.2022
Neutral Switzerland may target crypto assets within its territory that belong to sanctioned Russian entities, a report has said. The report quotes an official who explains that the move is designed to protect the integrity of the country’s cryptocurrency industry. The official, however...
Japan Looks to Stop Sanctioned Russian Entities From Transferring Crypto Assets
6.3.2022
As financial authorities around the world continue to target sanctioned Russian entities, regulators in Japan along with the country’s crypto association are attempting to find and close gaps that may be used to circumvent sanctions. The two bodies, however, have said they are not discussing...
Gaming Giant Animoca Brands Reveals Ban Against Russian Users, Co-Founder Compares Russia to North Korea
3.3.2022
Blockchain gaming firm Animoca Brands has revealed the company is breaking ties with Russian users following the Ukraine invasion that started seven days ago. Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu noted in an interview that the company received legal advice about the situation and the Animoca executive...
Apple Pay and Google Pay to Become Unusable with Cards from Sanctioned Russian Banks
25.2.2022
Customers of five sanctioned Russian banks will be unable to use their cards to pay with Apple Pay and Google Pay, the central Bank of Russia, said.
The banks in question include banks under the VTB Group, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, and Otkritie, per the announcement. The banks...
Apple Pay to halt support for Russian banks sanctioned on war in Ukraine
25.2.2022
Russians cashed out over $1.3 billion from banks on the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the largest amount since the onset of COVID-19
Cryptocurrency Theft Remains Key Revenue Source for North Korea, UN Report Says
6.2.2022
Cyberattacks on cryptocurrency exchanges have been a major source of funds for North Korea in the past year, a United Nations report has unveiled. According to the document, the sanctioned nation has also been developing its nuclear and missile programs. North Korea Hits Cryptocurrency Exchanges...
Gitcoin Deactivates Grant for Farsi Speaking Communities Due to U.S. Sanctions
10.12.2021
Gitcoin, an organization that helps fund open source projects around the Ethereum blockchain, has deactivated a grant due to it being directed to individuals from a sanctioned country. The grant, called “Free Smart Contract Development Course for Farsi Speaking Communities,”...
New Crypto and Blockchain Association Launches in Iran
1.12.2021
A recently established crypto industry association in Iran has commenced activities under the country’s chamber of commerce. Its management hopes to help remove obstacles challenging its members while facilitating the implementation of blockchain technology in the sanctioned nation’s...
US Treasury Sanctions 2nd Cryptocurrency Exchange, DOJ Seizes $6.1 Million
9.11.2021
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a second cryptocurrency exchange “for facilitating financial transactions for ransomware actors.” Two ransomware operators have also been sanctioned and $6.1 million in funds were seized. US Treasury Sanctions Another Cryptocurrency Exchange...
Russian Government to Track Crypto Transactions With Help From Anti-Drug Organization
4.11.2021
Russian institutions have responded to a call from а public movement for joint efforts to identify cryptocurrency transfers related to drug trade. The anti-drug organization, Stopnarkotik, recently asked the interior ministry and the central bank to investigate alleged connections between...
Sanctioned Russian oligarch urges central bank to embrace Bitcoin
21.10.2021
The U.S. Treasury asked cryptocurrency companies to ensure compliance with sanctions last week
Suex Founder Loses Top Job Over US Sanctions, Major Exchange, Payment Provider Implicated
26.9.2021
The scandal around sanctioned crypto broker Suex is growing in Russia where one of the co-founders of the OTC platform has been dismissed from his executive post at a bank. Meanwhile, an anti-drug organization has referred the case to the interior ministry and the central bank, asking authorities...
Blacklisted Suex Addresses Received Over $900 Million in Crypto, Report Reveals
23.9.2021
Cryptocurrency addresses allegedly used by Russian exchange Suex, recently placed under U.S. sanctions, have received more than $934 million in crypto assets, blockchain analysis suggests. According to the Treasury Department, over 40% of the platform’s transactions involved criminal actors....
US Treasury Targets Crypto Exchanges in Whole-of-Government Effort to Counter Ransomware
23.9.2021
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has taken actions targeting cryptocurrency exchanges “responsible for laundering ransoms” as part of the whole-of-government effort to counter ransomware. One cryptocurrency exchange has already been sanctioned along with related crypto addresses....