EU sanctions HTX over Russia links

The European Union has added HTX, the crypto exchange formerly known as Huobi and tied to Justin Sun as owner or advisor, to its latest Russia sanctions package. The 21st sanctions package targets crypto and financial networks that EU authorities say have helped Moscow evade restrictions, listing HTX among 18 crypto-related entities. Unlike a full designation, the measure imposes transaction restrictions on HTX rather than freezing its assets. The package also extends its reach to 14 crypto-related platforms across several jurisdictions and creates a mechanism to prohibit dealings with third-country crypto providers that assist in evading sanctions. UK authorities had previously sanctioned HTX, and EU listings highlight Sun’s ongoing association with the platform amid broader enforcement against crypto networks linked to Russia. The move underscores the EU’s intensified efforts to curb crypto services used to bypass sanctions and to expand enforcement beyond traditional financial channels.