KuCoin has immediately halted access to all of its products and services for users based in Russia and Belarus, citing legal and regulatory compliance. The cryptocurrency exchange said affected customers would be given an “orderly exit process” to withdraw their assets. The decision adds to a wider compliance response by crypto businesses facing international sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine.
KuCoin cuts access in two sanctioned markets
In a notice issued Thursday, KuCoin said the suspension applied across its services for users in both countries. The exchange also confirmed the move in a post on X, saying compliance is central to decisions about where and how it operates.
The company did not provide further details in the supplied announcement about the timing or mechanics of the withdrawal process. However, its reference to an orderly exit indicates that users will have a route to remove their holdings rather than simply losing access without notice.
KuCoin is headquartered in the Seychelles. Its action comes as cryptocurrency companies increasingly respond to sanctions imposed by the United States, Europe and other jurisdictions against Russia and Belarus. Those measures are connected to the war in Ukraine and can create legal restrictions for businesses serving customers in the affected markets, although the exchange’s announcement did not identify specific sanctions or regulations behind its decision.
According to Cointelegraph, the suspension takes effect immediately.
Russia sets up a crypto-market framework
The KuCoin announcement coincided with a separate development in Russia’s digital-asset sector. On Thursday, the country’s central bank approved the National Association of Securities Market Participants, known as NAUFOR, as a self-regulatory organization for crypto exchanges and custodians.
The central bank’s registry currently lists 23 cryptocurrency exchanges and eight digital-custody institutions. Registered entities must join a self-regulatory organization within 90 days.
The two developments illustrate the different pressures facing crypto markets in the region: international sanctions are prompting some global platforms to restrict access, while Russian authorities are establishing domestic oversight arrangements for exchanges and custody providers.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at the stated times showed the following prices and performance:
- Compound (COMP): $21.1287447338, down 10.42% over 24 hours and up 0.3% over seven days, as of October 25, 2026, at 22:39 (+03:30).
- BAS (BAS): $0.0169243841, down 1.24% over 24 hours and 7.19% over seven days, as of October 25, 2026, at 22:39 (+03:30).
- PolySwarm (NCT): $0.0167332051, up 155.44% over 24 hours and 292.62% over seven days, as of August 27, 2026, at 07:34 (+03:30).
- Ren (REN): $0.8044417073, up 29,270.65% over 24 hours and 28,690.8% over seven days, as of October 20, 2026, at 07:54 (+03:30).
These figures are supplied market snapshots and are separate from KuCoin’s service decision. They cover individual digital assets rather than access conditions for users in Russia or Belarus.
