- The UK sanctioned three crypto exchanges and two payment platforms linked to Russian sanctions evasion.
- Chainalysis said some sanctioned services received funds from thousands of illicit counterparties.
- Officials said some of the targeted platforms were connected to the Kremlin-backed A7 network.
The latest UK crypto sanctions target three cryptocurrency exchanges and two payment processors that authorities say helped Russian entities move money despite financial restrictions. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced the measures on Thursday, saying three of the service providers were linked to Kyrgyzstan and two facilitated transactions with the Kremlin-backed A7 network. According to the Foreign Ministry, cutting off these platforms is meant to make it more difficult for sanctioned entities to access and transfer funds. The action also follows earlier UK moves involving Huobi Global, the operator of HTX, which was included in a sanctions package in May.
UK crypto sanctions and the latest targets
The UK government said the sanctioned group includes three cryptocurrency exchanges and two payment platforms suspected of helping Russian entities bypass financial sanctions. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said three of the targeted providers were connected to Kyrgyzstan, while two of them enabled transactions involving the A7 network.
The Foreign Ministry described the step as part of a broader effort to disrupt access to money for sanctioned parties. It said the A7 financial network claimed to have moved more than $90 billion last year, which it described as nearly half of Russia’s annual military expenditure.
Chainalysis findings on sanctioned platforms
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said two of the sanctioned payment processors, Cryptomus and Heleket, received funds from thousands of illicit counterparties. It said that activity peaked at 900 entities within a single month in late 2025.
Chainalysis also said the Kyrgyzstani TokenSpot exchange was tied to the A7 network. According to its findings, TokenSpot, together with Grinex and Meer, received more than $308 million from the same HTX deposit address.
HTX links and the A7 network
In May, UK authorities added Huobi Global, the operator of crypto exchange HTX, to a sanctions package. HTX objected to that decision, saying the designation applied only to Huobi Global as a separate legal entity and that its online exchange and user funds were unaffected.
The A7 network remains a central part of the case described by UK authorities and analytics firms. Separately, CertiK said the Russian ruble-backed A7A5 stablecoin processed $110 billion in cumulative onchain transactions leading up to June, showing continued growth despite Western sanctions.
Response and reporting around UK crypto sanctions
Cointelegraph said it approached TokenSpot, Cryptomus and Heleket for comment on the sanctions matter. No response details were included in the source material.
The UK crypto sanctions announcement combines government allegations with blockchain tracking data from Chainalysis and transaction figures cited by CertiK. Together, those details outline how officials and researchers are linking exchanges, payment processors and the A7 network to sanctioned Russian financial activity.
Conclusion
The UK crypto sanctions action centers on three exchanges and two payment platforms that officials say supported Russian sanctions evasion. Government statements linked some of the entities to Kyrgyzstan and to the Kremlin-backed A7 network, while Chainalysis pointed to large volumes of activity involving illicit counterparties and shared HTX-related deposit addresses. The case also follows the UK’s earlier move against Huobi Global, which HTX said did not affect its exchange operations or customer funds. With separate data from CertiK showing continued growth in A7A5 stablecoin transactions, the latest UK crypto sanctions add another layer to enforcement efforts targeting financial routes tied to Russia.
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