The EU has adopted its 20th round of sanctions against Russia, imposing a comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency platforms operating within Russia for the first time.

According to the official website of the Council of the European Union, the EU formally adopted its 20th round of sanctions against Russia on April 23, 2026—the largest sanctions package in two years—adding 120 new individuals and entities to its sanctions list and intensifying pressure across multiple dimensions, including energy, finance, defense industries, and trade. In the cryptocurrency sector, given Russia’s growing reliance on cryptocurrencies for international settlements amid financial sanctions, the EU imposed a comprehensive sectoral ban on cryptocurrency transfer and trading platforms operating within Russia. It also sanctioned a Kyrgyzstani platform facilitating government-backed stablecoin A7A5 transactions and banned all transactions involving the cryptocurrency RUBx, as well as any EU support for the development of the digital ruble.