Crypto Sanctions: What They Are, Who They Target, and How They Shape Global Crypto Use
When governments impose crypto sanctions, official restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions to block financial activity by individuals, groups, or nations. Also known as digital asset freezes, these measures are no longer theoretical—they’re actively blocking wallets, freezing exchanges, and forcing users to find workarounds. Unlike traditional banking sanctions, crypto sanctions rely on blockchain analysis, wallet clustering, and exchange compliance to track and cut off access. This isn’t about stopping Bitcoin—it’s about stopping specific people, groups, or regimes from using it.
These sanctions don’t happen in a vacuum. They’re tied to broader international rules like FATCA, a U.S. law requiring foreign financial institutions to report accounts held by American citizens, and MiCA, the European Union’s comprehensive crypto regulation that forces exchanges to verify users and report suspicious activity. Countries like Iran and North Macedonia can’t legally run crypto exchanges, but their citizens still trade—using P2P platforms, VPNs, and offshore wallets. Meanwhile, Indian traders are moving to Dubai not just to avoid taxes, but to escape the shadow of global compliance pressure. Crypto sanctions aren’t just about blocking bad actors—they’re reshaping where and how ordinary people can use digital money.
What you’ll find in these posts isn’t theory. It’s real cases: how Iranians get caught using VPNs, why a banned exchange in North Macedonia still thrives underground, how Indian traders relocated to dodge a 30% tax, and why a fake exchange called Certified Coins doesn’t exist at all. You’ll see how on-chain tracing tools help governments track funds, how airdrops like QBT and CANDY get tangled in regulatory gray zones, and why some tokens—like SPEED and BAGEL—just vanish after launch. These aren’t random stories. They’re all connected by the same force: crypto sanctions. Whether you’re trying to trade, invest, or just understand why your favorite token disappeared, this collection shows you what’s really happening behind the headlines.
How North Korea Cashes Out Stolen Cryptocurrency to Fiat
North Korea has turned cryptocurrency theft into a state-funded banking operation, stealing over $3 billion since 2017 and converting it into cash through unregulated hubs like Cambodia. Learn how hackers, IT workers, and DeFi loopholes keep the regime funded despite global sanctions.
- December 1 2025
- Terri DeLange
- 6 Comments