Overview
- The Prosecutor General labeled WhiteBIT and parent W Group undesirable, extending the ban to affiliates and criminalizing any cooperation in Russia.
- Banks and payment providers were ordered to block transactions linked to the exchange, with reported prison terms of four to eight years for those who continue to collaborate.
- Russian authorities allege roughly $11 million was routed to Ukraine since 2022, including about $900,000 for drones, and say the platform supported the United24 donation system and gray fund-transfer schemes.
- WhiteBIT told CoinDesk it exited the Russian market in early 2022, blocked Russian and Belarusian users, removed ruble pairs, confirmed $11 million in donations, and said its Whitepay unit processed over $160 million for defense and humanitarian causes.
- The action aligns with Russia’s effort to license exchanges and set retail caps, with rules outlined by the central bank targeting a July 1, 2027 start and a proposed 300,000‑ruble annual limit per intermediary under discussion by finance officials.