UK sanctions crypto platforms accused of helping Russia evade restrictions

The United Kingdom has sanctioned three cryptocurrency exchanges, two payment platforms and one individual in an Oct. 8 package of 38 designations targeting financial services, oil revenue and suppliers accused of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced the measures on Oct. 8, saying it suspected the targeted financial businesses were helping Russia bypass sanctions. The department said two of the platforms had processed or facilitated transactions with A7, a financial network it described as Kremlin-backed.

UK sanctions target crypto exchanges and payment providers

According to the sanctions details cited in the supplied report, the targets include Xeltox Enterprises, linked to cryptocurrency services Cryptomus and Heleket, alongside TokenSpot, Processing KG and Tsunami Payments.

The report identifies TokenSpot, Processing KG and Tsunami Payments as Kyrgyzstan-based businesses and names Processing KG director Ulan Bukabaev as the individual sanctioned. In its announcement, the Foreign Office said three of the targeted platforms had links to Kyrgyzstan.

For the financial restrictions, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation’s guidance explains that asset freezes prohibit dealings with covered funds and economic resources, subject to applicable exemptions or licences. The office explicitly includes cryptoassets within the assets covered by financial sanctions.

Under the same guidance, British sanctions apply to people and businesses operating within UK territory, as well as UK nationals and companies established under British law wherever they operate. OFSI also states that relevant restrictions can extend to companies owned or controlled by a designated person.

The Foreign Office said A7 claimed to have moved more than $90 billion during 2025. British authorities presented the figure as the network’s own claim and accused A7 of providing channels for transactions restricted under sanctions against Russia’s financial sector.

Earlier enforcement had already targeted parts of that infrastructure. On May 26, crypto.news reported UK sanctions against Russia-linked crypto and financial businesses registered in the United Arab Emirates, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan.

According to that report, British authorities accused the network of routing payments through foreign financial systems and supporting procurement activity. The May restrictions included asset freezes and prohibitions on British businesses processing payments or maintaining correspondent banking relationships involving designated entities.

U.S. restrictions already cover the A7 network

In the United States, Treasury announced a separate action against A7 on Oct. 1 under Operation Economic Outcast. The department said OFAC designated the network as a transnational criminal organization, while FinCEN proposed restrictions on transfers involving companies acting as its overseas payment agents.

Treasury said the designation blocks A7 property within the United States or held by U.S. persons. According to the department, entities owned 50% or more by blocked persons are also blocked, and transactions involving covered property are generally prohibited unless authorized or exempt.

For American financial institutions, FinCEN’s transfer restriction remains a proposal rather than a completed rule. Treasury said the public comment period would close 30 days after publication of the notice in the Federal Register.

An Oct. 2 report on the U.S. A7 sanctions detailed FinCEN’s finding that network-linked agents processed more than $17 billion in dollar-denominated transactions between January 2025 and June 2026.

According to that coverage, the proposed measure covers conventional funds and convertible virtual currency. FinCEN also issued an alert describing suspicious trade records, unexplained high-volume transactions and payment routes involving several countries as indicators institutions should examine.

The report quoted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warning that illicit-finance facilitators could “lose access to the U.S. financial system.”

For the network’s crypto operations, Treasury identified A7A5 as a blocked ruble-backed token issued by Old Vector LLC, which U.S. authorities sanctioned in August 2025. The department said A7 created the token to let network members transact internationally while generating revenue for sanctioned infrastructure providers.

EU transaction bans cover 14 crypto platforms

European authorities adopted their own restrictions on July 23, when the Council of the European Union approved its 21st sanctions package against Russia.

The Council said the package added 218 listings, comprising 48 individuals and 170 entities, its largest batch of new individual listings in four years. It also extended transaction bans to 14 crypto-related platforms operating in Georgia, Panama, the UAE, the Marshall Islands, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.

In July 24 coverage of HTX transaction restrictions, Reuters identified 18 crypto companies on the published list, while the Council counted 14 platforms. The report distinguished the company counts from the services those businesses operated.

According to that coverage, the targeted services included HTX, BitPapa, EXMO, Rapira, A7 Africa and A7 Nigeria. Reuters reported that the EU measure against HTX imposed transaction restrictions without requiring an asset freeze.

Alongside those listings, the Council introduced a mechanism allowing restrictions on crypto services in third countries when authorities determine that providers are helping Russia evade sanctions. The July announcement also identified four designations connected to A7, including its links to Africa.

Oil companies and military suppliers also face UK restrictions

Outside financial services, the Foreign Office named Russian oil companies Zarubezhneft and INK Capital in the Oct. 8 package. According to the department, British sanctions now cover more than 90% of Russia’s total oil production capacity.

The announcement also designated 12 additional tankers accused of operating within Russia’s shadow fleet, taking Britain’s sanctioned vessel count above 600. The Foreign Office described deceptive shipping practices and false flags among the methods used to evade restrictions.

For military supply chains, the department listed 17 entities and individuals involved in goods classified by the UK, U.S. and EU as important to Russia’s war effort.

According to the announcement, those targets include Russian importers of machine tools, electronics, and materials used in ballistic missile and drone production, as well as a European national associated with a third-country business exporting machine tools to Russia.