The EU has enacted its 21st sanctions package, expanding measures against Russia's financial and banking sector with asset freezes and transaction bans on 94 institutions. It also targets a Kyrgyz bank and three other non-Russian banks for circumventing sanctions, and introduces a new instrument for a full third-country ban on crypto-asset services used by Russia.
Kenya's Capital Markets Authority is seeking a blockchain analytics platform to monitor virtual assets, flag illicit activities like fraud and money laundering, and enforce compliance under the new Virtual Assets Service Providers Act. The tool will track Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 20 other networks to support regulation of the country's growing crypto market.
A Russian-flagged tanker, part of the 'shadow fleet' used to bypass sanctions, has entered the English Channel. This follows the UK's boarding of another vessel, the Smyrtos, highlighting ongoing efforts to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports.
The Russian ruble-backed A7A5 stablecoin has processed over $110 billion in transactions, capturing 43% of the non-US dollar market. Despite EU sanctions, its growth highlights blockchain's role in sanctions evasion, with reserves held outside Western reach.
France intercepted and diverted a Russian oil tanker, the Tagor, in the Atlantic Ocean for allegedly flying a false flag and evading sanctions. President Macron stated the operation complied with maritime law, while Russia condemned it as illegal piracy.
The UK sanctions crypto exchange HTX for aiding Russia's financial sector through alleged ties to A7, a Russian crypto exchange. UK institutions are banned from doing business with HTX, and may freeze related transactions.
Binance is under scrutiny for allegedly enabling a vast crypto network, linked to Iranian businessman Babek Zencani, to process hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions, potentially funding Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and evading international sanctions.
Binance allegedly allowed Iranian entities, including one linked to Babak Zanjani, to conduct $850 million in transactions despite sanctions. Internal reports suggest funds may have supported Iran's military, prompting a probe by Senator Richard Blumenthal.
German authorities arrested a businessman suspected of running a sanctions evasion scheme to supply the Russian military with European technology. The four-year investigation revealed a sophisticated network routing dual-use goods through countries like Turkey before reaching Russian end-users.
An investigation reveals Nobitex, Iran's largest crypto exchange, is directly linked to a clerical dynasty, facilitating sanctions evasion. Despite U.S. sanctions and internet blackouts, the platform, used by 11 million Iranians, reportedly moved hundreds of millions of dollars for sanctioned entities.
