EU adds Justin Sun's HTX to Russia sanctions list

HTX Named in EU's Latest Russia Sanctions Package

Cryptocurrency exchange HTX was sanctioned by the European Union on Thursday as part of the bloc's latest effort to tighten pressure on Russia's financial system. HTX was included in a list of 18 companies providing crypto services, and was formerly known as Huobi, established in China in 2013. Hong Kong-based billionaire Justin Sun (@justinsuntron) bought a controlling stake in the exchange in 2022.

The EU said the 18 listed companies helped Russians evade sanctions. EU authorities included the crypto companies in the bloc's 21st sanctions package against Russia over the war in Ukraine. The EU's latest sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine targets banks, cryptocurrency networks, oil traders, the shadow fleet, and Russian energy revenues.

The EU's sanctioning of HTX does not amount to a full designation and does not include an asset freeze. Instead, the listing bans EU operators from transacting with the exchange, placing a compliance burden on European counterparties without directly freezing HTX's assets.

UK Action Came First, HTX Pushed Back

HTX had already faced sanctions in the United Kingdom. On May 26, British authorities targeted Huobi Global S.A., the Panama-based company behind HTX, over alleged financial services involving A7 and Garantex, two entities previously sanctioned over their links to Russia. The UK Foreign Office alleged that HTX provided services to A7, a payments network backed by Russian state-controlled Promsvyazbank, and Moscow-based crypto exchange Garantex. British restrictions included an asset freeze and barred UK companies from processing payments or maintaining financial relationships with the designated entities.

The UK government suspects HTX of channeling over $1.5 billion to Russia to help the regime bypass international trade blockades. HTX responded to the UK action by arguing that Huobi Global S.A. was a legally distinct Panama entity, separate from the trading platform itself. HTX argued that the UK action targeted Huobi Global S.A. as a distinct legal entity and that the trading platform's operations remained unaffected. The EU's latest listing places both HTX and Huobi Global S.A. side by side, making that distinction harder to sustain.

The sanctions are the latest sign of countries cracking down on the use of crypto to move funds outside the mainstream financial system. HTX is the largest exchange yet caught in the Russia sanctions net, and the coordinated EU and UK actions signal that offshore platforms of any scale are now within reach of Western enforcement.

HTX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sources:
Reuters via Euronext: Crypto exchange HTX included in EU's Russia sanctions
Finance Magnates: EU Adds HTX to Russia Sanctions Two Months After UK's Action
Chainalysis: UK Sanctions Crypto Companies With Russia Ties