EU Ban on Russia and 14 other Countries on Crypto Transaction Networks

[Bitcoin-Forever]

EU Ban on Russia and 14 other Countries on Crypto Transaction Networks

After reading this, you will either choose to be under regulations or operate in decentralization.

It is no more new to host that Russia has been using bitcoin to evade sanctions, now they are taking it hard on Russia because it has been using this digital currency to perform transactions internationally as its decision to evade the lingering sanction upon it, EU has decided to place strict regulation to ban Russia from some of these benefits with 21 sanctions upon it cryptocurrency networks, which will affect it crypto networks in making cross-boarder transactions.

The European Union (EU) extended sanctions against Russia to include four designations related to the cross-border A7 network, including its new links to Africa.

The EU is also extending its transaction ban to 14 unnamed crypto-related service platforms based in Georgia, Panama, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Marshall Islands, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.
 https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/07/24/eu-hits-russia-with-massive-21st-sanctions-package-targeting-usd120b-crypto-network

This is to also serve as a warning/friendly reminder to all bitcoin users who are still operating under a custodial storage to think for the second time, sanction is not a joke, centralized platform cannot escape this regulations from government and this is why it is high time to embrace the use of non custodial storage mostly, if we don't want to be stuck among those that will be affected by this sanction, especially on those that are within these regions.

Bitcoin is a true decentralization that we wanted to evade sanction and I hope in due time, Russia should also be able to adopt it as a legal tender, I have been seeing a lot of threads as well concerning Russia regulations on crypto assets in the country and how they are fully depending on bitcoin when it comes to some of their cross-border transactions they engage, could also be an avenue to see more increasing use on decentralized exchanges than  before.

Not your keys not your coins.

[BlackBoss_]

EU Ban on Russia and 14 other Countries on Crypto Transaction Networks

It is no more new to host that Russia has been using bitcoin to evade sanctions, now they are taking it hard on Russia because it has been using this digital currency to perform transactions internationally as its decision to evade the lingering sanction upon it, EU has decided to place strict regulation to ban Russia from some of these benefits with 21 sanctions upon it cryptocurrency networks, which will affect it crypto networks in making cross-boarder transactions.

They began their war against Ukraine in early 2022 but it took them almost two years to accept cryptocurrency payments legally inside (only inside) their nation.
They did it in August 2024 under increasing and escalating pressure of the USA and EU sanctions.

Russia to begin using cryptocurrencies in international trade.
Russia approves law allowing use of crypto for global payments as it faces ongoing sanctions.

Since 2022, sanctions against Russia have not decreased but it has actually increased more with this newest EU ban against Russia.

[Zlantann]

In international trade, parties must agree on the medium of exchange. Some of Russia's trading partners might not want to accept Bitcoin as a means of payment. This will force Russian authorities to use centralised platforms to exchange cryptocurrencies. Invading these sanctions would have been simple if all trading partners accepted crypto as legal tender. But many of them want dollars for trade payments.

Reagrding the sanctions, just as Russia have successful envaded sanctions placed on its oil exports through the shadow oil fleets, the country will always develop shadow financial systems to bypass these financial restrictions. Chinese cryptocurrency exchange HTX was also part of the sanctioned crypto platforms. As long as Russia remains a close ally of China, there will always be means to escape these sanctions.

[Exitoral]

The only thing government can regulate or control are businesses around Bitcoin examples are custodians or service providers around Bitcoin, not  Bitcoin itself and it's protocol and code too. That is uncontrollable.

When people talk about self-custody, they are referring to ownership. Holding your own keys protects you from frozen account. But users shouldn't feel they are total immune by every law.

At the end of the day, government can only regulate were they have leverage. Sanctions like this will create more and more alternatives. Decentralised tools will be on the rise and that is what the main aim of Bitcoin is. Individuals having total control over their own coins.

With what is going on, this just proves how sovereign Bitcoin is.

[Slow death]

Bitcoin is a true decentralization that we wanted to evade sanction and I hope in due time, Russia should also be able to adopt it as a legal tender, I have been seeing a lot of threads as well concerning Russia regulations on crypto assets in the country and how they are fully depending on bitcoin when it comes to some of their cross-border transactions they engage, could also be an avenue to see more increasing use on decentralized exchanges than  before.

Not your keys not your coins.

In a country where the government controls television, radio, and all media, and can only publish official Kremlin narratives, it's unlikely a government like that would allow its people to regulate Bitcoin for use without their oversight. A good example of what I'm talking about is:

Only eight licensed venues will be permitted to handle crypto trades once the framework takes full effect. Any transfer exceeding 100,000 rubles, approximately $1,300, must be reported to the Central Bank of Russia and Rosfinmonitoring, Russia's anti-money laundering (AML) agency.

The architecture is permissioned and surveilled, not open. Moscow is not handing exporters a crypto free-for-all; it is replacing one set of controls with another.

source: https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/crypto/articles/bitcoin-news-russia-legalizes-btc-154552678.html

These measures came into effect on the 1st of this month. At least that's what the news says. Probably the day the war ends and sanctions are lifted, they will revoke this measure and Bitcoin will be seen as a major target to be taken down in Russian territory. Let's look at the case of Igor Runets, founder of BitRiver, a cryptocurrency mining company operating in Russia. He was arrested for allegedly not paying taxes. But honestly, I don't believe that's the reason. It will be very difficult for Bitcoin to be widely used by all citizens in Russia under the current regime.

[₿itcoin]

Now many will say after seeing this news, "Look, even Bitcoin couldn't save itself from sanction"

But in reality, EU did not ban Bitcoin they targeted specific crypto service provider, cross border A7 network, A7A5 stablecoin and all platform that they believe are helping Russia evade sanction. At the same time some financial institution, bank and some crypto operators in third world country may also have been banned.

You have to understand that they have failed to shut down decentralized network, so they are controlling entry and exit, custodian, exchange and intermediaries.
Now if you put your coins in CEX and say nothing will happen to me, then you are trusting in wrong place.
Cause govt can freeze account, ask for KYC data and even shut down service for user in certain region if it wants.

[SeriouslyGiveaway]

Now many will say after seeing this news, "Look, even Bitcoin couldn't save itself from sanction"

It is easy to debunk that saying.
If governments can sanction Bitcoin, Bitcoin was already dead a long time ago. The fact is opposite, Bitcoin is not dead.
How many people want Bitcoin to die, it's yet died.
https://bitcoindeaths.com/
https://99bitcoins.com/bitcoin-obituaries/
How many people or nations want to sanction Bitcoin, it's still been accessible and usable for us.

You have to understand that they have failed to shut down decentralized network, so they are controlling entry and exit, custodian, exchange and intermediaries.
Now if you put your coins in CEX and say nothing will happen to me, then you are trusting in wrong place.

Centralized exchanges and services are easily sanction services because they're centralized, identity-known.

Cause govt can freeze account, ask for KYC data and even shut down service for user in certain region if it wants.

AML and KYC can be used as tools for governments doing their jobs against citizens and they will aim firstly at centralized platforms.
Why KYC is extremely dangerous and useless.

[Texac]

After reading this, you will either choose to be under regulations or operate in decentralization.

You are right, this news is not a weakness of Bitcoin.

Rather, it is another real example of why self custody and decentralization are so important.

Bitcoin is a neutral network. It is not for or against any particular country. Whether Russia, Ukraine, Europe or anyone else uses it, the network operates on the same rules for everyone. This is Bitcoin's greatest strength. And this is why states are trying to control the centralized infrastructure around Bitcoin rather than stop it.

so, i will choose to operate in decentralization.

[BIT-BENDER]

After reading this, you will either choose to be under regulations or operate in decentralization.

You are right, this news is not a weakness of Bitcoin.

Rather, it is another real example of why self custody and decentralization are so important.

Bitcoin is a neutral network. It is not for or against any particular country. Whether Russia, Ukraine, Europe or anyone else uses it, the network operates on the same rules for everyone. This is Bitcoin's greatest strength. And this is why states are trying to control the centralized infrastructure around Bitcoin rather than stop it.

so, i will choose to operate in decentralization.

Yes Bitcoin greatest strength is that it is independent and no nation has any control over it, I believe that the EU would wish that this ban can actually be a complete one but that's not the case because of the decentralized system.
Honestly I am an advocate for financial freedom but I am completely against using the fact that Bitcoin is decentralized to evade laws or to engage in crime.
If I want to be political I would say it doesn't make sense to ban a whole country from carrying out Crypto-currency transactions just because of the actions of their leaders, that won't do anything to stop the source of the problem and Crypto-currency is becoming to much of a geopolitical punishment tool and it is just not right.

[noorman0]

It's clear that Russia won't use a service bound by EU regulations, so I don't think suggesting custodial storage is particularly relevant here. If Russia is your business customer, they'll send the coins to your non-custodial wallet. You'll probably be fine if you never come into contact with a centralized service. The problem is, if you need to use that service to cash out.

[Zoomic]

Bitcoin is decentralized and can't be controlled for a fact but you can't say same for exchanges and other services through which Bitcoin transactions can be performed, those ones can be regulated.

The EU is not targeting Bitcoin they'll simply put pressure on exchanges, custodians and payment services within their control in other to effect their ban against Russia.

That's why it's important to not entrust your Bitcoin or other digital assets with these exchanges. Always practice self-custody to remain on the safe side.

[Oluwa-btc]

Reagrding the sanctions, just as Russia have successful envaded sanctions placed on its oil exports through the shadow oil fleets, the country will always develop shadow financial systems to bypass these financial restrictions. Chinese cryptocurrency exchange HTX was also part of the sanctioned crypto platforms. As long as Russia remains a close ally of China, there will always be means to escape these sanctions.

Europe under the leadership of Ursula leaves me stunned yet again. They chose to remain a proxy to the US when they should be working hand to hand with Russia. I'm also not boggled with the likes of Belarus, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan,  they all share strong relationships with Russia so yeah, every reason why they're being involved in the banned list from Europe. Ever since the military intervention with Ukraine, the European Union has sort for too many ways to isolate Russia but they have found themselves thriving under harsh conditions.
This saying has been sang more like a song for too long, this attacks directly on exchanges though. ( Not your key's, not your coins ). This has been a measure utilised by Russia for international trade.

[legiteum]

So Bitcoin comes to the rescue of... murders.

Are you sure this is what you want to associate with Bitcoin?

Once again this is the Bitcoin community, narrowly focused on short-term, "number go up" policies without a care in the world as to what the long-term implications might be.

Legislation in the USA could easily drop the price of BTC by 95% if the US Congress passed laws against it (especially if the EU mirrored those laws, which they would surely do if it was about Ukraine/Russia). If enough of the population associated Bitcoin with crime and murder, then they would demand their lawmakers act against Bitcoin.

Hence the price of BTC is based on... politics.

Hence pointing out that "Bitcoin is a great way to help out this murderous regime" may not work out well for BTC holders in the long run. Just saying...

[CryptoBuds]

So Bitcoin comes to the rescue of... murders.
Are you sure this is what you want to associate with Bitcoin?

Just as Internet is used for good, it is also used for illegal purpose, right?
But do we ever call the Internet a criminal technology?
If criminal or war participant use Bitcoin then it is not failure of Bitcoin.

It is no more new to host that Russia has been using bitcoin to evade sanctions, now they are taking it hard on Russia because it has been using this digital currency to perform transactions internationally as its decision to evade the lingering sanction upon it, EU has decided to place strict regulation to ban Russia from some of these benefits with 21 sanctions upon it cryptocurrency networks, which will affect it crypto networks in making cross-boarder transactions.

Actually it is not possible for large country to run its international trade or war financing entirely with Bitcoin (they might be able to do it on small scale).
The fact is, blockchain is transparent and large transaction can be traced.
So it does not seem that Russia will use Bitcoin extensively to bypass sanction.

[PrivacyG]

Are you sure this is what you want to associate with Bitcoin?

Yes, Russia being able to avoid sanctions by using Bitcoin proves that Bitcoin is particularly working as intended.  Please take this out of context now, I know you love doing it!

Once again this is the Bitcoin community, narrowly focused on short-term, "number go up" policies without a care in the world as to what the long-term implications might be.

No way!  What will we do!  The long term implications of a currency that can not be controlled, frozen, sanctioned, seized or infinitely printed else are absolutely terrible!

Legislation in the USA could easily drop the price of BTC by 95% if the US Congress passed laws against it (especially if the EU mirrored those laws, which they would surely do if it was about Ukraine/Russia). If enough of the population associated Bitcoin with crime and murder, then they would demand their lawmakers act against Bitcoin.

Excuse my language!  But how difficult was it to pull that '95%' out of your ass?

[legiteum]

So Bitcoin comes to the rescue of... murders.
Are you sure this is what you want to associate with Bitcoin?

Just as Internet is used for good, it is also used for illegal purpose, right?
But do we ever call the Internet a criminal technology?
If criminal or war participant use Bitcoin then it is not failure of Bitcoin.

Yeah... no. Banning the entire internet would have an enormous impact on humanity. Banning Bitcoin would not.

If enough people are convinced that Bitcoin's evil uses outweigh its good uses, then people will want to get rid of it. That's how it works for everything in politics.

There seems to be a lot of people that are celebrating Bitcoin's role in propping up Putin's murderous regime. All I'm saying is that this is not something to be celebrated.

Yes, Russia being able to avoid sanctions by using Bitcoin proves that Bitcoin is particularly working as intended.

Gun companies don't celebrate how many innocent people are killed with their weapons. They don't advertise how many bank robberies are committed using their products. Instead they talk about how safe the innocent and law abiding portion of their user base feels with their product, and they emphasize the innocent lived that their product might have saved, etc.

Cheering on a murderous regime for using Bitcoin sounds... pretty stupid to me.

Perhaps you don't care if Bitcoin loses 99% of it's tradable value because a new, anti-Russia regime takes hold in the USA, and since the Bitcoin community spent so much time associated itself with Russia, then Bitcoin is sanctioned and no longer allowed to participate in mainstream US markets. I know a lot of people here literally want Bitcoin to do down in price so they can buy more of it, because they love owning Bitcoin as an end in itself, sorta like collecting Hummel dolls or Pez dispensers.

But suffice it to say that most people holding Bitcoin don't want their investment to go to nearly zero, and thus don't want the US and other developed countries to attack it, and thus... don't see the wisdom of emphasizing the very worst possible uses of Bitcoin.