KuCoin Exits Russia and Belarus as EU Crypto Sanctions Tighten

KuCoin has stopped serving customers in Russia and Belarus, effective immediately across all products, becoming the third crypto exchange to announce restrictions in the region within two weeks. Affected users will receive individual deadlines to close positions and withdraw funds. KuCoin cited legal and regulatory obligations without identifying a new rule or regulator. The European Union’s 21st Russia sanctions package, adopted July 23, banned transactions with 14 foreign crypto platforms and created powers to restrict other overseas providers; KuCoin had blocked transactions involving A7-linked entities, Rapira and HTX before expanding its restricted list on September 29. Austria’s regulator had restricted new business at KuCoin’s EU subsidiary in February over anti-money-laundering and sanctions-compliance appointment gaps, lifting that ban in May.