Japan sanctions Garantex, freezing assets of exchange tied to $96B in crypto transactions

Japan has added Garantex to its sanctions list. Assets tied to the Moscow-based crypto exchange are now frozen, and payments and capital transactions with it are restricted. Garantex has already been sanctioned by Washington, sanctioned by Brussels, and raided by an international law enforcement operation. Tokyo is the newest name on the list of governments that want nothing to do with it. What Japan actually did The measures took effect on October 2, 2026, as part of an expanded round of sanctions against Russia. Garantex landed on Japan’s asset freeze list alongside 32 other entities and nine individuals. It is one crypto exchange in a package that is mostly about Russia’s war economy. The package also extends to shipping. Japan introduced service and financing restrictions on 35 vessels linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Several of the other designated entities sit squarely in Russia’s defense sector. They include Tulamashzavod and Motovilikhinskiye Zavody, along with several individuals connected to major defense conglomerates. The Garantex designation does not come with fresh accusations. Japan’s action extends restrictions already in place against the exchange rather than bui...