
UK Sanctions Cryptomus: How $7 Billion Crypto Platform Fueled Russian Money Laundering
In October 2026, the United Kingdom imposed economic sanctions against Cryptomus, a cryptocurrency platform that served as a major conduit for ransomware payments, darknet market transactions, and financial services helping Russia circumvent existing restrictions. Previously operating under names like Certa Payments and Xeltox Enterprises before rebranding to Heleket, the platform processed over $7 billion in transactions since 2022, including funds associated with child exploitation, terrorist financing, and human trafficking. The sanctions freeze all UK-based assets and prohibit British companies from conducting business with the platform, effectively shutting down operations that Canada's previous $176 million fine failed to stop. This marks the first instance of a Five Eyes country sanctioning a cryptocurrency operation incorporated in another Five Eyes jurisdiction, demonstrating unprecedented international coordination against illicit financial infrastructure supporting state-sponsored money laundering.
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