EU's 21st Sanctions Package Expands Scope of Crypto Restrictions, Authorizes Blocking Third-Country Platforms Assisting Russia in Evading Sanctions

According to Bitcoin.com, the EU adopted the 21st package of sanctions against Russia on July 23, further tightening controls in the cryptocurrency sector. The new regulations impose trading bans on 14 crypto service platforms in Georgia, Panama, the UAE, Belarus, and other locations, and starting from August 25, prohibit Russian and Belarusian citizens from holding any position or ownership in crypto service providers under the EU's MiCA framework. Additionally, new provisions authorize the EU to impose comprehensive trading bans on third countries that "systemically and persistently fail to prevent" sanctioned crypto activities, granting extraterritorial effect to the relevant regulations.