Japan officially added the Moscow-based cryptocurrency exchange Garantex to its asset freeze list on October 2, 2026. The new measures restrict all capital transactions and payments involving the platform, aligning Tokyo with existing sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union.
The exchange was included in a broader sanctions package targeting Russia's economy, which also encompasses 32 other entities, nine individuals, and 35 vessels associated with a shadow shipping fleet. Other designated entities include defense companies such as Tulamashzavod and Motovilikhinskiye Zavody.
Garantex, founded in 2019, has processed at least $96 billion in transactions since its inception. The platform previously lost its Estonian license in 2022 due to anti-money laundering issues and faced infrastructure seizures in 2025, during which authorities froze over $26 million in assets.
For crypto businesses operating in Japan, the designation introduces additional legal risks. Compliance departments must now screen counterparties and wallets against the updated Japanese sanctions list, adding to the existing regulatory requirements already enforced by US and EU authorities.
