The European Commission has announced a new sanctions package targeting Russia’s use of cryptocurrencies, aiming to limit the country’s ability to bypass existing financial restrictions.
The measures include a full ban on transactions with Russian crypto asset service providers and decentralised platforms facilitating crypto trading tied to sanctions evasion.
The package also prohibits the use of ruble-pegged stablecoins and the central bank digital currency being developed by the Central Bank of Russia.
“This package puts further pressure on Russia to engage in negotiations and do so on terms acceptable for Ukraine,”
Said the European Commission.
The sanctions follow discussions between Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the EU continues to respond to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
Officials said Russia has become increasingly reliant on cryptocurrencies for international transactions, prompting the EU to target stablecoins such as A7A5 and related crypto operators.
The move underscores growing regulatory scrutiny of crypto’s role in geopolitics, as governments seek to prevent digital assets from undermining traditional sanctions frameworks.