EU widens Belarus ownership ban to all crypto firms

The European Union widens Belarus ownership ban on crypto service providers under MiCA from Aug. 25, barring Belarusian nationals and residents from owning, controlling or managing EU exchanges and other regulated crypto firms. The move expands earlier limits that covered only wallet, account and custody services, tied to Belarus’s role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Key Takeaways

• From Aug. 25, Belarusian nationals and residents may not own, control or manage MiCA-regulated crypto firms in the EU.
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1847 expands prior limits that applied only to wallet, account or custody providers.
• The decision entered into force on July 24, 2026; the wider crypto ownership rule applies from Aug. 25.
• The expansion follows MiCA’s July 1 transition end and a broader EU drive against sanctions evasion via crypto.

What does the widened Belarus ownership ban cover?

Under the amendment, Belarusian nationals and residents may not own or control an EU-based entity that provides “any other crypto-asset services” as defined under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. They also may not hold a position on such a firm’s governing body.

MiCA’s service categories include operating trading platforms, exchanging crypto assets, executing and transmitting client orders, placing crypto assets, providing transfers, and offering investment advice or portfolio management. That goes well beyond the earlier restriction, which applied only to companies providing crypto wallet, account or custody services.

For more regulatory alerts in this space, see BlasterPost’s Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.

Why is the EU expanding crypto sanctions on Belarus?

The measure appears in Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1847, adopted Thursday to amend the EU’s sanctions framework targeting Belarus over its involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to Cointelegraph’s report, the Belarus restriction sits within a wider EU push to target crypto platforms and financial networks accused of helping Russia evade sanctions.

Separately on Thursday, as part of its 21st sanctions package against Russia, the EU extended its transaction ban to 14 crypto-related service platforms outside the bloc. It also introduced a mechanism allowing it to prohibit dealings with any foreign crypto provider used by Russia to evade sanctions. That package builds on a June 11 proposal that targeted 11 crypto platforms.

When do the new MiCA ownership rules take effect?

The Council decision enters into force on July 24, while the expanded crypto ownership provision will apply from Aug. 25. Timing matters for compliance teams: MiCA’s transition period ended on July 1, and crypto companies without authorization were ordered to wind down or face enforcement actions.

In short, the EU now pairs fuller MiCA supervision with tighter nationality and residency screens on who can own or run regulated crypto businesses. Firms operating exchanges and other MiCA services should review ownership, control and board composition ahead of the Aug. 25 start date.

How does this fit with other crypto sanctions moves?

The EU’s Belarus ownership expansion follows related pressure elsewhere. The United Kingdom on May 26 sanctioned Huobi Global S.A., the Panamanian company behind HTX, over alleged support for Russia-linked financial networks involving sanctioned entities A7 and Garantex. HTX denied wrongdoing, telling Cointelegraph that regulatory compliance “remains our absolute top priority” and that it strictly adheres to frameworks where it operates.

Together, these steps signal that European and allied policymakers are treating crypto intermediaries as a sanctions-risk channel, not a regulatory gray zone. Ownership bans under MiCA raise the stakes for any Belarus-linked control of EU crypto service providers.