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EU expands Belarus MiCA crypto ban and broadens Russia sanctions on HTX, A7

EU expands Belarus MiCA crypto ban and broadens Russia sanctions on HTX, A7

The bloc’s latest sanctions package bars EU dealings with HTX from Aug. 23, adds a new tool to restrict third-country crypto providers tied to Russia sanctions evasion, and broadens Belarus-related MiCA ownership limits.

Fact Check
The primary EUR-Lex Official Journal text of 'Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1847' directly confirms all elements of the claim: it extends a ban on Belarusian nationals/residents owning, controlling, or holding governing body posts in EU entities providing any crypto-asset services as defined in MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, effective 25 August 2026, and the Decision took effect 24 July 2026. This expands earlier restrictions (previously limited to wallet, account, and custody services), as corroborated by 'EU Widens Belarus Crypto Ownership Ban Under MiCA' from Cointelegraph. The only minor nuance is that the ban targets EU-incorporated entities providing crypto services rather than 'MiCA firms' generically, but this is consistent with the claim's substance.
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Summary

The European Union has widened crypto-related sanctions on Russia and Belarus, placing Huobi Global S.A., the entity behind HTX, under an EU transaction ban from Aug. 23 and adding a new mechanism that could let Brussels restrict crypto providers across third countries if their services are used to help Russia evade sanctions. The package also extends transaction restrictions to 14 crypto-related platforms operating from several non-EU jurisdictions, adds new designations linked to the A7 payments network and A7A5 stablecoin, and separately expands Belarus sanctions so Belarusian nationals and residents cannot own, control or manage MiCA-authorized crypto firms from Aug. 25.

Terms & Concepts
  • MiCA: The European Union's regulatory framework for crypto-asset markets and service providers.
  • transaction ban: A sanctions measure that prohibits specified parties from conducting dealings with a targeted entity.
  • third-country crypto providers: Crypto-asset service providers based outside the European Union that could face EU transaction restrictions if authorities determine they are helping Russia evade sanctions.