The European Commission’s 20th sanctions package, expected to be adopted Feb. 24, would bar cryptocurrency transactions with Russia by targeting 20 additional regional Russian banks, several foreign lenders (including banks in Kyrgyzstan, Laos and Tajikistan) and Russia-established crypto asset service providers and platforms. The measures could also target Russia-linked payments platform A7 and its ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5. Experts warn decentralized liquidity and on-chain swaps may limit full enforcement. Russia has passed a law allowing freezing and confiscation of digital currency.

The EC package aims to ban crypto transactions with Russia and explicitly targets 20 regional banks, foreign lenders, Russia-established CASPs and potentially A7/A7A5 — concrete restrictions that will reduce on-ramps and services. The summary also notes enforcement limits from decentralized liquidity/on-chain swaps and Russia’s new law to freeze/confiscate digital assets, which tempers total effectiveness.