Russia

Japan

2026-10-04 05:56:30

Japan adds Garantex to asset-freeze sanctions list in new Russia measures

Japan announced a new round of sanctions on Russia on Oct. 2, adding 33 entities and nine individuals to its asset-freeze list. The newly designated targets include Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex. The measures also restrict payments to, and capital transactions with, the sanctioned parties. Garantex had already been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions over allegations that it helped related Russian entities evade financial sanctions. The update was reported by Techub News, citing the Japanese government’s announcement.

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Japan

2026-10-04 05:36:46

Japan adds Russia sanctions, including a group tied to crypto-based sanctions evasion

Japan has decided at a cabinet meeting to impose additional sanctions on Russia, according to a report by Nikkei cited by Cankao Xiaoxi and relayed by ChainCatcher. The new measures target 35 vessels in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which has been used to secretly transport crude oil to avoid Western sanctions. Under the decision, Japan will in principle ban the provision of operational support, maintenance, insurance and financing services to those ships. Separately, the Japanese government added 33 Russian military-related organizations and nine individuals to a new asset-freeze list. The list includes a group accused of using crypto assets, or virtual currencies, to evade financial sanctions. The move places crypto within a broader sanctions-enforcement framework rather than as a standalone policy step, based on the details provided in the report.

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U.S. Treasury

2026-10-02 11:38:10

U.S. Treasury designates A7 network as a major transnational criminal organization

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated the Russian shadow banking network A7 as a major transnational criminal organization, according to Decrypt. The agency also identified related addresses tied to the network in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. In a parallel move, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed a rule that would bar U.S. institutions from participating in fund transfers involving the network’s “secondary front companies,” with the scope extending to convertible virtual currency rather than stopping at fiat transactions. The proposal relies on Section 9714 of the Russia Anti-Money Laundering Act and selects the sixth of six available special measures: a prohibition on fund transfers. FinCEN said the fifth option, which targets correspondent accounts, would leave gaps. Research cited from TRM Labs found that A7A5 transactions bypassed the correspondent banking system entirely, which FinCEN described as central to the network’s operating model. The filing also says A7A5 is a ruble-backed token issued by Kyrgyzstan-registered Old Vector, runs on Tron and Ethereum, and holds reserves at Russia’s state-owned defense bank Promsvyazbank.

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U.S. Treasury

2026-10-02 11:28:41

U.S. designates Russia-linked A7 Network as transnational criminal organization, targets crypto and fiat flows

The U.S. Treasury has escalated action against the A7 Network, a Russia-linked shadow banking operation that officials say was used by Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to evade sanctions. The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated the network a significant transnational criminal organization, while the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed a rule that would block transfers involving the network’s so-called Sub-Agents. Treasury said the measure would reach both fiat and crypto activity. According to FinCEN, the network relies on A7A5, a ruble-backed token issued by Kyrgyzstan-registered Old Vector and active on Tron and Ethereum, alongside a sprawling web of companies and bank accounts that make sanctioned payments appear to be ordinary trade. The agency said more than 180 entities processed at least $179.1 billion in A7A5 from February 2025 to June 2026, while the network’s fiat side moved more than $17 billion through accounts at about 435 financial institutions across at least 83 countries. Treasury also linked parts of the network to Iran’s shadow tanker fleet, the sanctioned Iranian exchange Nobitex, and laundering tied to North Korean exchange hacks. The proposed rule would affect roughly 348,000 institutions, including crypto exchanges, and the public comment period will close 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

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Putin

2026-10-01 20:57:43

Putin says Russia would consider using all weapons if Kaliningrad is directly attacked

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would consider using all weapons at its disposal if Kaliningrad comes under direct attack, according to ChainCatcher. Putin also said recent warnings issued by Russia’s Foreign Ministry were a response to pressure from the West. NATO answered by calling Russia’s 「irresponsible nuclear rhetoric」 unacceptable and said the alliance would continue defending the territory of its member states. The exchange centers on security tensions involving Kaliningrad and reflects a fresh verbal confrontation between Moscow and NATO. No additional measures or timeline were disclosed in the brief. The report cites Putin’s remarks and NATO’s response without providing further operational details.

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U.S. Treasury

2026-10-01 17:53:39

U.S. Treasury sanctions A7 Network as FinCEN moves to block related transactions

The U.S. Treasury Department said it has taken action against A7 Network, describing the move as unprecedented. Treasury accused A7 Network of operating as a Russia-linked shadow banking network and said the Iranian regime used it to evade sanctions. The department also designated the network as a significant transnational criminal organization. At the same time, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, proposed a rule that would prohibit transactions involving sub-agents tied to A7 Network. FinCEN also issued an alert aimed at helping financial institutions identify and report suspicious activity connected to the network. The update was posted by the U.S. Treasury account @USTreasury.

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Russia

2026-09-30 07:52:13

Russia says 130 nm lithography prototype is ready, with excimer laser tested ahead of acceptance

Russia has unveiled a new milestone in its domestic chipmaking equipment push. First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said at a microelectronics forum in September 2026 that a 130 nm lithography prototype jointly developed by Russia and Belarus has been built, while a domestically made excimer laser has completed testing. He said full-machine acceptance will begin this autumn and finish by year-end. The report frames the machine as a mature-node tool rather than a bid to compete in smartphone processors. It uses a 248 nm KrF excimer laser and is positioned for applications such as automotive electronics, industrial control, sensors, power devices, and military chips, where reliability and supply continuity matter more than cutting-edge geometry. The article also highlights the laser source as the key technical hurdle, noting that stable mass production of 248 nm KrF excimer lasers had previously been concentrated in a small number of suppliers. Russia’s roadmap, as cited in the report, targets 65 nm to 40 nm tools in 2026, 28 nm by 2032, and sub-10 nm EUV by 2036. It also points to major unresolved constraints outside the lithography scanner itself, including materials, EDA software, and engineering talent.

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Russia

2026-09-29 11:29:47

Putin envoy Dmitriev holds "constructive" talks with U.S. officials on Russia-Ukraine peace

According to ChainCatcher, Dmitriev, a special envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, held talks with U.S. officials on Monday. The meeting was described as "constructive," with discussions focused on a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war. The brief update did not disclose further details about the participants, location, or any specific outcomes from the talks. The reported point of emphasis was the possibility of advancing a peace settlement related to the conflict.

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