UK Sanctions HTX Over Alleged $1.5 Billion Russia-Linked Crypto Flows
HTX has been pulled into one of the most serious crypto sanctions stories of the year after the UK designated the exchange under Russia-related sanctions rules and TRM Labs linked the case to more than $1.5 billion in alleged flows involving sanctioned entities. TL;DR The UK designation targets correspondent banking and payment relationships. TRM Labs…
Russia Rejects Crypto As Legal Tender, Finance Official Confirms
According to statements reported by Russian news agencies, Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, said cryptocurrencies “will never become money” in Russia and should be treated only as investment instruments. He said that where a payment is required, it must be made in Russian rubles. Ruble Remains Sole Payment Unit…
Russia Steps Deeper Into Crypto As State Bank Prepares Direct Trading
VTB, Russia’s second-largest bank, has told clients it plans to let them buy and sell real cryptocurrencies through its brokerage service, with a target rollout in 2026 pending regulator approval. According to the bank, the move would go beyond the derivative products that most Russian banks have offered so far. It is a clear shift…
Crypto Firms Flee Ukraine—Weld Money Becomes Latest To Exit
Ukraine’s crypto card market is shrinking fast. Weld Money, a fintech that let people spend crypto through a Mastercard-linked card, is closing its doors in the country. Users have been told to pull out their money by the end of next month or risk losing access. According to company posts on social media, military controls…