October 23, 2025 — The European Union has adopted its 19th sanctions package against Russia, introducing sweeping new restrictions targeting cryptocurrency platforms and the A7A5 ruble-backed stablecoin amid growing concerns that Moscow is using digital assets to evade financial sanctions.
Announced Thursday, the measures ban Russia-based crypto payment providers and prohibit the distribution of related payment software across the EU. The sanctions also expand to include Russian energy companies, banks, and intermediaries in China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, and the UAE, which the EU accuses of assisting Moscow in circumventing existing restrictions.
“We have just adopted our 19th package of sanctions,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. “It targets Russian energy, banks, crypto exchanges, and entities in China, among others.”
We just adopted our 19th sanctions package.
It targets Russian banks, crypto exchanges, entities in India and China, among others.
The EU is curbing Russian diplomats’ movements to counter the attempts of destabilisation.
It is increasingly harder for Putin to fund this war.
The A7A5 ruble-backed stablecoin was identified by EU authorities as a “prominent tool for financing activities supporting the war of aggression.” The new rules ban all issuance and trading of A7A5 within the bloc and sanction its Kyrgyz issuer along with an unnamed digital asset platform where “significant volumes” of A7A5 were traded.
Nineteenth package of sanctions against Russia
At least eight banks and oil traders from Central Asia, Hong Kong, and the UAE are also being sanctioned for helping Russia move funds via cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
Russia’s Growing Reliance on Crypto
The European Council noted that Russia’s use of digital assets to bypass restrictions has intensified in 2025. Reports indicate that Russian oil companies have used Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) to facilitate tens of millions of dollars in monthly transactions outside the traditional financial system.
In March, Reuters reported that several sanctioned Russian firms were increasingly turning to crypto to settle cross-border energy trades. In July, two Russian nationals residing in New York were charged with laundering over $540 million through crypto platforms, highlighting global efforts to curb sanction evasion.
The inclusion of crypto-related entities in the EU’s latest sanctions marks a major policy shift, signaling Brussels’ intent to close digital loopholes that have enabled Russian firms to sustain financial operations.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
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