EU Adds HTX Crypto Exchange to Its Russia Sanctions List
The European Council listed HTX, formerly Huobi Global, among 18 crypto and payment entities accused of providing Russia a financial lifeline in defiance of EU measures over Ukraine.
In Brief
- In a Thursday decision, the European Council amended its measures over Russia’s war on Ukraine to add HTX to a list of 18 entities providing crypto-asset or payment services outside the Union that are “significantly frustrating” EU prohibitions
- HTX told Cointelegraph that “regulatory compliance remains [its] absolute top priority” and that it will monitor and adhere to regulatory frameworks in all jurisdictions
- The same day, the EU moved to bar Belarusian nationals and residents from owning or managing crypto exchanges under MiCA; the UK imposed similar sanctions on HTX in May
The European Union has listed cryptocurrency exchange HTX, formerly Huobi Global, as part of a package of sanctions targeting Russia amid the country’s war on Ukraine, Cointelegraph reported. The exchange, already sanctioned by the UK, now sits on a list of 18 entities the bloc says are helping Moscow evade its restrictions.
In a Thursday decision, the European Council amended its previous measures “in view of Russia’s actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine” to include HTX among 18 entities “providing crypto-assets services or payment services established outside of the Union that are significantly frustrating the purpose of the prohibitions” against Russia. The country continues to face sanctions globally following its 2022 military invasion.
The EU framed the move as part of a sustained campaign. Officials said the Union “has repeatedly taken measures to identify financial institutions, credit institutions or entities providing crypto-asset services or payment services that facilitate a continued financial lifeline for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” whether by connecting to the Russian central bank’s financial-messaging system or by enabling circumvention of EU restrictive measures — and to prohibit any transaction between those entities and Union operators.
How the HTX exchange sanctions fit a wider crackdown
HTX has previously defended its compliance record. The exchange told Cointelegraph that “regulatory compliance remains [its] absolute top priority” and that it will “proactively monitor and strictly adhere to regulatory frameworks in all jurisdictions.”
The action against HTX did not arrive in isolation. The same day, EU officials announced they would prohibit Belarusian nationals and residents from owning, controlling, or managing crypto exchanges and digital asset service providers, in compliance with the region’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework.
HTX is also not the first jurisdiction to target the exchange. The UK government imposed similar sanctions on HTX in May, saying there were “reasonable grounds to suspect” that the exchange supported Russia’s government by using financial services and funds facilitated by sanctioned entities.
Why crypto rails keep drawing sanctions scrutiny
The listing reflects how central crypto infrastructure has become to sanctions enforcement. Regulators increasingly view offshore exchanges and payment providers as potential channels for circumventing restrictions, and the EU’s language about entities “significantly frustrating” its prohibitions signals that more platforms could face similar designations.
For HTX, the practical effect is a widening web of restrictions across major jurisdictions — the UK in May and now the EU — that complicate its ability to operate and transact with regulated Western firms. The exchange’s public emphasis on compliance underscores the reputational stakes.
The move also lands amid a broader EU effort to tighten its crypto perimeter through MiCA, from the Belarus ownership ban to the entity list. Together they show a regulator treating digital-asset rails as a front line in the economic pressure campaign against Russia rather than a peripheral concern.
FAQ
Why did the EU sanction the HTX exchange?
The European Council added HTX to a list of 18 crypto-asset and payment-service entities based outside the EU that it says are “significantly frustrating” the bloc’s prohibitions against Russia, as part of its measures over Russia’s war on Ukraine.
How did HTX respond to the sanctions?
HTX has previously told Cointelegraph that “regulatory compliance remains [its] absolute top priority” and that it will proactively monitor and strictly adhere to regulatory frameworks in all jurisdictions.
Had HTX been sanctioned before?
Yes. The UK government imposed similar sanctions on HTX in May, citing “reasonable grounds to suspect” the exchange supported Russia’s government using financial services and funds facilitated by sanctioned entities.
