EU authorities include HTX exchange in Russian sanctionsThe exchange, already sanctioned by the UK, is now on a list of 18 entities “providing crypto-assets services or payment services“ in defiance of the EU’s measures against Russia.

The European Union has included the cryptocurrency exchange HTX, formerly known as Huobi Global, in its latest sanctions package targeting Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. HTX is listed among 18 entities described as providing crypto-asset or payment services outside the EU but significantly undermining EU measures against Russia. The sanction decision aims to address entities that continue to financially support Russia's war efforts, either through connections to Russia's Central Bank financial systems or by enabling sanctions circumvention.

EU officials stated that these measures are intended to prohibit transactions between these identified institutions and operators within the Union, highlighting a broader effort to cut off financial channels facilitating Russia's military actions in Ukraine. This development follows earlier sanctions imposed by the UK government in May, which alleged that HTX had supported the Russian government by using financial services connected to sanctioned entities.

HTX has responded by emphasizing its commitment to regulatory compliance and its intention to strictly adhere to regulatory frameworks across all jurisdictions. The inclusion of HTX on the EU sanctions list coincided with an additional EU announcement prohibiting Belarusian nationals and residents from managing crypto exchanges and digital asset service providers, reinforcing the region's adherence to the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework.

The sanctions against HTX demonstrate the EU's intensified scrutiny of crypto platforms suspected of undermining international sanctions on Russia. The source underscores the continuing global response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the use of financial and crypto services in conflict-related sanctions enforcement.