Sanctions
Criminal use of crypto spikes after years of steady decline, TRM report says
While the increasingly professional bad guys' crypto rocketed to $158 billion in 2025, it's still a decreasing share of overall digital assets activity.
Iran’s central bank bought $507 million USDT to underpin rial, report finds
Elliptic traced more than $500 million in USDT tied to Iran’s central bank, suggesting the stablecoin was used to manage foreign-exchange pressures and build a “sanctions-proof” alternative to dollar banking.
Iran accepts cryptocurrency as payment for advanced weapons
Prospective customers could purchase weapons such as missiles, tanks and drones using crypto, according to a government website.
U.S. Sanctions North Korean Bankers Over Crypto Laundering Tied to Cyberattacks
The Treasury Department sanctioned eight individuals and two entities accused of using crypto and shell companies to funnel millions into Pyongyang’s weapons programs.
U.S. Targets Cambodian Pig Butchering, Takes $14B in Bitcoin as Biggest Ever Seizure
As the Justice Department pursues Prince Group's leader, the Treasury Department sanctioned the company while also severing Huione from the U.S. finance.
Asia Morning Briefing: Singapore Authorities Say Token2049 Organizer Not Covered by Russia Sanctions After A7A5 Appearance
Monetary Authority of Singapore spokesperson tells CoinDesk that entities not regulated as financial institutions are not subject to sanctions measures.
Asia Morning Briefing: Why Russia-Linked Stablecoin Issuer A7A5 Could Exhibit at Token2049 Despite Singapore Sanctions
Singapore made a bold move in its usual foreign policy of neutrality by sanctioning Promsvyazbank, a bank associated with the ruble stablecoin issuer A7A5, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But A7A5 was able to legally make an appearance at Token2049 because the conference is organized by a Hong Kong entity.
Israel Links Wallets That Received $1.5B in Stablecoins to Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Israel flagged 187 crypto addresses allegedly linked to the IRGC. Elliptic says the wallets received $1.5B in USDT, though not all may belong to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
U.S. Blacklists Crypto Network Behind Ruble-Backed Stablecoin and Shuttered Exchange Garantex
U.S. officials accused Garantex, Grinex, A7A5 token issuers and executives of laundering ransomware proceeds and evading sanctions.
UK Says Crypto Sector Likely Under Reporting Sanction Breaches
U.K.-based crypto asset firms also face a high risk of being targeted by North Korean hackers, many of which operate on behalf of sanctioned entities, the report said.
