Short answer: On July 25, 2026, details confirmed that the European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia puts HTX, the exchange formerly known as Huobi, on a list of crypto platforms EU firms may not deal with from August 23, 2026. It is a transaction ban, not an asset freeze: EU residents with HTX balances should plan to withdraw, and EU-regulated services will stop sending funds to or accepting funds from HTX.
What happened
The Council of the European Union adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, July 23, 2026. By July 24–25, reporting by Cointelegraph and The Block established that HTX is named among crypto and payment service providers established outside the EU that, in the Council's wording, significantly frustrate the purpose of the existing Russia prohibitions.
What the EU sanctions on HTX mean in practice:
- Transaction ban from August 23, 2026. EU operators are barred from engaging, directly or indirectly, in transactions with HTX.
- No asset freeze. HTX itself is not subject to a full freeze of assets under the package.
- Withdrawal window. According to The Block, EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals may request authorisation to withdraw their funds within three months of the ban taking effect.
- Other platforms. The Block named seven more services on the list: EXMO, Rapira, BitPapa, Aifory Pro, WhiteBird, NoOnecrypto and Exnode. Reports differ on the total number of listed crypto entities.
HTX said that regulatory compliance is its top priority and that it runs an active compliance programme.
Why the EU targeted HTX
HTX was founded as Huobi in 2013 and was once one of the largest exchanges in the world; Tron founder Justin Sun is associated with it as an adviser. In late May 2026, the United Kingdom sanctioned Huobi Global S.A., saying it had reasonable grounds to suspect the exchange helped A7, the Russian company behind the ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5, which Western governments see as a sanctions-evasion tool. HTX rejected the allegation and said it had turned down A7A5's listing application.
On July 22, 2026, blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs said HTX was rotating its deposit wallets every few hours across TRON, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain and Solana, which makes screening based on static address lists harder. HTX described the activity as routine security practice.
How EU crypto sanctions on Russia have escalated
| Package | Timing | Crypto measures |
|---|---|---|
| 19th | Late 2025 | First package to hit crypto platforms directly and restrict crypto transactions linked to Russia |
| 20th | April 23, 2026 | Sector-wide ban on dealings with Russian crypto-asset service providers; ban on ruble stablecoins such as A7A5 and on the digital ruble |
| 21st (proposed) | June 10, 2026 | Plan to ban transactions with 11 unnamed crypto platforms |
| 21st (adopted) | July 23, 2026 | HTX and other non-EU platforms listed; ban applies from August 23, 2026 |
The package also creates a mechanism to ban dealings with crypto providers based in third countries that systematically fail to prevent sanctions evasion, although no country had been designated yet. On the same day the EU barred Belarusian nationals and residents from owning, controlling or managing crypto-asset service providers licensed under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), effective August 25, 2026.
What it means for you
If you live in the EU or use EU-regulated platforms, the practical effects arrive within weeks.
- Withdraw from HTX in good time. Move funds to a wallet you control before August 23 rather than relying on a later authorisation process. Send a small test transaction first.
- Expect blocked transfers. EU-licensed exchanges and custodians will likely reject deposits that come directly from HTX addresses after the ban, and may hold funds for review.
- Check indirect exposure. The ban covers indirect transactions, so routing money through an intermediary to reach HTX is not a workaround and can get your account frozen.
- Keep records. Save withdrawal confirmations and transaction IDs in case a receiving platform asks where the funds came from.
For assets you hold outside exchanges, our crypto wallet security guide explains how to set up self-custody safely.
Key takeaways
- The EU adopted its 21st Russia sanctions package on July 23, 2026.
- HTX (formerly Huobi) is listed; EU operators may not transact with it from August 23, 2026.
- The measure is a transaction ban, not an asset freeze, with a withdrawal authorisation route for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals.
- EXMO, Rapira, BitPapa, Aifory Pro, WhiteBird, NoOnecrypto and Exnode are also named, according to The Block.
- The UK had already sanctioned HTX's operator in May 2026 over alleged links to the A7A5 ruble stablecoin.
When you move funds out of a sanctioned venue, check the receiving network and fees first; you can review supported networks before sending anything.
Sources: The Block, Cointelegraph, Cointelegraph (Belarus), CoinDesk
Frequently asked questions
Is HTX banned in the EU?
Under the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package, adopted on July 23, 2026, EU operators may not transact with HTX directly or indirectly from August 23, 2026. It is a transaction ban rather than a full asset freeze.
Can EU users still withdraw money from HTX?
Withdrawing before August 23, 2026 is the simplest option. After that, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can reportedly request authorisation to withdraw their funds within three months.
Why did the EU sanction HTX?
The EU listed HTX among non-EU crypto providers it says significantly undermine its Russia sanctions. The UK had already sanctioned HTX's operator in May 2026 over suspected support for A7, the company behind the ruble stablecoin A7A5, which HTX denies.
