Binance Restricts Transactions With HTX, EXMO and 14 Other Crypto Platforms Over Sanctions Compliance

Binance announced on August 14 that it will no longer process transactions involving a group of crypto-asset service providers and exchanges. The exchange said the decision follows recent regulatory developments and is required to meet rules in the jurisdictions where it operates. Users were instructed not to send to, receive from, or otherwise engage in transactions through Binance involving the listed entities after specified cutoff dates.

Any attempted transactions on or after those dates may be held for a compliance review. Restrictions could also be applied to the associated wallets while the review continues. Such activity may be treated as a breach of Binance’s terms of use.

Phased Timeline of Restrictions

The measures take effect in three stages across August 2026. Restrictions on two platforms began on August 7. A further three were cut off on August 13. The largest group of 11 platforms, including major exchange HTX and EXMO, faces a cutoff on August 23.

Binance advised users to avoid direct or indirect transfers involving these entities after their respective dates. The exchange stated that the steps are necessary to maintain a safe and secure environment for users and their assets. Support remains available around the clock for inquiries.

Sanctions Background

Most of the platforms scheduled for the August 23 cutoff appear on the European Union’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, adopted in July. The package imposed transaction bans on a set of third-country crypto and financial service providers that authorities said were helping Russia circumvent existing restrictions linked to the war in Ukraine. The EU measure against HTX is structured as a transaction ban rather than a full asset freeze. EU persons and companies are barred from direct or indirect dealings with the covered services once the restrictions take effect.

HTX, formerly known as Huobi, had already faced UK sanctions pressure earlier. In May the UK government designated Huobi Global S.A., citing reasonable grounds to suspect it had supported the Russian government by providing financial services or making funds available to entities including A7 LLC and Garantex Europe OU. British authorities later clarified that they consider the HTX exchange itself subject to the sanctions because of its ownership by Huobi Global. HTX had argued that the designation applied only to a separate legal entity and that its online platform and user funds remained unaffected.

The two platforms restricted from August 7 were sanctioned by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control over alleged links to Iranian networks. Officials accused Shelbit and Aban Tether of facilitating crypto transfers connected to sanctions evasion and entities tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Nearly all the platforms named by Binance outside the US-designated pair also appear on the EU list. Several are relatively low-volume or regional services. The inclusion of HTX, one of the larger global centralized exchanges by trading volume, marks a more significant development.

Response From HTX Leadership

HTX founder Justin Sun responded shortly after Binance’s announcement. He stated that he had communicated with Binance and that the restrictions involve only Binance users in the UK and EU. Sun added that HTX does not conduct business in those jurisdictions and that settlement negotiations with UK and EU regulatory authorities are already underway. He said affected users can contact HTX customer service for assistance with individual cases.

Binance’s public notice was addressed to all users and did not limit the restrictions by geography. The exchange simply listed the platforms and the phased effective dates, warning of compliance reviews and possible wallet restrictions for any related activity after those dates.

Operational Impact for Users

Binance users who continue to attempt transfers involving the listed platforms after the relevant cutoff risk having those transactions held and their wallets placed under temporary restrictions during review. The company has not delisted any specific cryptocurrencies; the policy targets counterparties that fall under the sanctions measures.

The August 23 date for the largest group aligns with the effective date of the EU transaction bans. Earlier restrictions on the US-sanctioned platforms and the A7-related entities already took effect earlier in the month. Binance has framed the entire series of actions as necessary compliance steps rather than discretionary commercial decisions.

Users with open questions about specific transfers or wallet status were directed to contact Binance Support. The exchange reserved the right to amend or cancel the announcement at any time.