Since 2022, Belarus has been a quiet cryptocurrency haven not only for the country's citizens and local businesses, but also for Russians, who used it for settlements with foreign trading partners and to withdraw money from the Russian Federation. But in late April, the EU imposed a ban on any transactions with all cryptocurrencies and cryptoassets from Belarus. The main intrigue now is whether companies around the world will freeze the assets that previously passed through these platforms?

The EU has imposed sanctions against crypto projects of Belarus. Who will be affected? 

GameStop Corp.

EBAY INC EBAY ORD

US President Donald Trump <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/tramp-anonsiroval-operaciu-proekt-svoboda-v-ormuzskom-prolive">is launching an</a> operation to remove ships from the Strait of Hormuz amid a war with Iran, warning of a forceful response if he intervenes. China orders companies to ignore US sanctions for the first time, heightening the risk of financial conflict ahead of talks between the two leaders. On these and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of Ma 4.

Russian Federation blocks Kazakh oil supplies to Germany: they provide fuel for Berlin

The European Union <a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/04/23/russia-s-war-of-aggression-against-ukraine-20th-round-of-stern-eu-sanctions-hits-energy-military-industrial-complex-trade-and-financial-services-including-crypto/">imposed</a> sanctions on the Russian cryptocurrency sector on April 23 - as part of a new, 20th package of measures, which Brussels called the largest in two years. As restrictions against the financial sector tighten, Russia is increasingly using cryptocurrencies for international settlements, the release explained.

EU bans transactions with Russian crypto platforms

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank has notified the German regulator, Bundesbank (Central Bank of Germany), about possible violation of sanctions against Russia, according to which deposits of Russian citizens should be limited to less than €100 thousand ($117.94 thousand). This is reported by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/deutsche-bank-notifies-supervisors-possible-russia-sanctions-breach-source-says-2026-04-17/">Reuters</a> and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-17/deutsche-bank-reports-itself-to-regulator-over-russia-clients">Bloomberg</a>, citing two sources familiar with the situation. Earlier the German edition Finanz-Szene also <a href="https://finanz-szene.de/banking/deutsche-bank-erstattet-selbstanzeige-wegen-problematischer-russland-kunden/">wrote</a> about it.

Deutsche Bank notified of its possible violation of sanctions against Russia

Apple Inc.

Apple's European division, Apple Distribution International (ADI), which is responsible for product sales in Europe and the Middle East, has been fined £390,000 (about $516,000) by a British regulator for transfers in 2022 to a sanctioned Russian company, the Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/915ac02f-96f8-4224-b2ab-10d83e5afd92?syn-25a6b1a6=1">reports</a>.

Apple's European unit fined for violating sanctions against Russia

The European Union<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/eu-pitched-turkey-join-its-payments-system-envoy-says-2026-03-19/"> has offered</a> Turkey<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/eu-pitched-turkey-join-its-payments-system-envoy-says-2026-03-19/"> to</a> join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). The proposal was made during an<a href="https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/commissioner-kos-turkiye-strengthen-regional-cooperation-and-connectivity-2026-02-05_en"> official visit to</a> Ankara by EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Marta Kos in early February. How will the implementation of European banking standards in Turkey proceed if Ankara agrees, and how will it affect Russians?

"Unsuitable country": how Turkey's entry into the euro payments zone will affect Russians

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

Amazon.com, Inc.

OpenAI is developing a single "super app" that combines ChatGPT, a coding platform and a browser. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is discussing the creation of a fund of up to $100 billion to buy up industrial companies and implement artificial intelligence. Brent crude oil has fallen slightly, but is still trading above $100 per barrel. About these and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of March 20.

Highlights for the morning: oil cheapened, OpenAI "super app", Bezos's $100 billion fund

The European Commission (EC) <a href="https://finance.ec.europa.eu/document/download/66e8fd7d-8057-4b9b-96c2-5e54bf573cd1_en?filename=faqs-sanctions-russia-consolidated_en.pdf">has put an</a> end to a long-standing dispute between banks and fintech start-ups with Russian clients residing in the EU. Officials have issued a clarification: Russian citizenship alone is not grounds for closing an account.

European Commission tells banks how to apply payment sanctions to Russians with residence permits 

A Latvian resident spent three years programming for a Russian company and received more than €60,000 on an Alfa Bank card. Now he <a href="https://vdd.gov.lv/en/news/press-releases/vdd-seeks-criminal-prosecution-against-a-person-for-providing-programming-services-to-a-company-in-russia">faces</a> criminal prosecution for violating EU sanctions against Russia. Oninvest found out how the Latvian State Security Service managed to find the programmer.

€60,000 in cash: how Latvia found out a programmer who worked for a Russian company

Switzerland's financial market regulator (FINMA) <a href="https://www.finma.ch/en/news/2026/02/20260227-mm-mbaer-liquidation/">said</a> on Feb. 27 that it had begun the process of liquidating MBaer Merchant Bank after Washington <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/ssa-namereny-otklucit-svejcarskij-bank-ot-finansovoj-sistemy-za-svazi-s-iranom-i-rf">threatened to</a> deny the Swiss private bank access to the U.S. financial system for violating sanctions against Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

Switzerland has closed a bank that the U.S. has accused of having ties to Iran and Russia

Bank Hapoalim B.M.

Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M.

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd.

Israel Discount Bank Limited

Israeli banks have stepped up checks on the tax residency of repatriates from the Russian Federation. The banks either ask clients to prove that the center of their life interests is now in Israel, or independently recognize their Russian tax residency, inviting the client to appeal at once. It is not worth ignoring the banks' requests, otherwise data on Israeli accounts and cards will be received by the Federal Tax Service as part of an auto-exchange of information, financial advisers warn.