The European Union has expanded its sanctions against Russia by adding HTX to a new package targeting financial networks. The measures also include several other crypto service providers that allegedly supported sanctions evasion. The move marks another step in the EU's broader effort to tighten restrictions on financial channels linked to Russia's war economy. EU Adds HTX to Latest Russia Sanctions Package The European Union has included HTX among 18 crypto service providers in its latest sanctions package targeting Russia. The measures aim to disrupt financial networks that allegedly supported sanctions evasion through digital assets. The package also targets banks, oil traders, energy revenue channels, and vessels linked to Russia's shadow fleet. EU officials stated that the listed crypto firms allegedly helped Russian users bypass existing sanctions. Authorities expanded the restrictions as part of wider efforts to limit financial activity supporting Russia's war in...
Payments company Wise says it will revisit its application strategy with the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) after the regulator rejected its push to become a national trust bank. In a notice issued Thursday, Wise said it intends to reapply under a GENIUS Act framework—US legislation designed to create a regulated pathway for payment stablecoin activities. The shift matters because Wise’s original charter plan has now been explicitly denied, and the GENIUS Act is meant to offer clarity for stablecoin issuers and payment providers once regulators finalize the rules. Wise’s next steps will therefore be closely watched by other fintechs weighing stablecoin-related business models in the US. Key takeaways Wise was rejected by the OCC for a national trust bank charter tied to its use of stablecoin-related rails. The company plans to submit a new OCC application using a “GENIUS Act framework,” according to its Thursday notice. William Blair said Wise is likely to re...