International Sanctions and Crypto Restrictions in Syria and Cuba in 2025

So Syria’s open for crypto now, but Cuba’s still locked down? That’s wild. I get the strategic angle, but it feels like the U.S. is playing favorites. If crypto is supposed to be decentralized, why are we still treating it like a geopolitical chess piece?

Also, anyone else notice how Lightspark’s Grid Switch is basically a backdoor for compliance? Smart, but also kind of a hack.

The distinction between broad and targeted sanctions is legally sound, but ethically messy. We’re not sanctioning nations anymore-we’re sanctioning people, while pretending the rest are innocent. The truth is, in Syria, everyone’s still connected to someone on the list. And in Cuba, even your cousin’s Bitcoin wallet is now a national security concern.

Cuba’s a dictatorship. Syria’s a dictatorship. Why help one and not the other? Simple. Syria’s useful. Cuba’s not. End of story.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: If you’re sending crypto to Syria, ALWAYS use a blockchain scanner like Chainalysis or Elliptic! 🛡️ Even if the country is ‘open,’ one wrong address = $1M fine. 🚨 Also, don’t trust P2P platforms-many now auto-block Syrian IPs. Use Lightspark or similar compliant tools. 💡 You’re not just being careful-you’re being smart. 💪

Oh wow, so now the U.S. gets to decide who gets to be free and who doesn’t? That’s not sanctions-that’s colonialism with a crypto twist. 🤡

Next they’ll say ‘we lifted sanctions on Syria because we like their new face’-like they’re picking a president on The Bachelor. 🎭

Meanwhile, Cuba’s just trying to survive. But hey, if you’re not aligned with Washington’s latest mood swing, you’re the villain. Classic.

Everyone’s acting like this is new news. Newsflash: crypto was always a sanctions workaround. The only thing that changed is the U.S. finally admitted it. They didn’t ‘lift’ sanctions-they just stopped pretending they could control blockchain. Cuba? Still a target because they don’t bow. Simple.

Really interesting breakdown. I’ve been watching this whole thing unfold and it’s wild how the same tech can be a lifeline in one place and a threat in another. Maybe the real story isn’t the sanctions-it’s how crypto is forcing us to rethink what ‘sovereignty’ even means anymore. 🤔

Also props to Lightspark. That’s the kind of innovation we need-practical, not ideological.

Big win for Syrians! 🎉 Crypto’s gonna change lives there. Stay safe out there, and keep building! 💪🚀

Guys I just want to say this is huge for people in Syria who’ve been cut off for decades. I know a guy in Damascus who runs a small clinic-he’s finally getting medical supplies paid for in BTC. No more waiting 6 months for wire transfers. This isn’t politics, this is real life.

And for Cuba? Yeah it sucks. But the regime’s still sending troops to Russia. So... yeah. I get it. Not perfect, but not arbitrary either.

Also if you’re a dev building a wallet, please add OFAC screening. It’s not hard. I’ve done it. Just use the API. You’ll thank me later.

One must consider the legal implications of extraterritorial enforcement under the CACR. The jurisdictional reach of U.S. sanctions over non-U.S. subsidiaries constitutes a significant expansion of sovereign authority, arguably exceeding customary international law norms. The precedent set here may invite reciprocal measures from other states in the future, particularly in the domain of digital asset regulation.

Cuba’s people are suffering. Syria’s people are suffering. Why does the U.S. get to pick which one we care about? Hypocrites.

This is actually so inspiring for us in India too. We’ve seen how crypto helps small businesses bypass banking delays. If Syria can use it to rebuild, maybe we can learn from their approach. Also, Lightspark’s model is genius-using local rails with blockchain settlement? That’s the future. 🙌

They’re lying. The U.S. didn’t lift sanctions. They just moved them to the blockchain. Now they’re tracking every single BTC transaction. The whole thing is a trap. The Fed’s using crypto to control the world. You think Syria’s free? Nah. They’re just being watched better now. Watch your wallet.

Why even care about Syria or Cuba? U.S. should focus on India. We don’t need their sanctions. We got our own crypto now. End of story.

How quaint. You think a ‘sanctions-aware wallet’ is innovation? That’s just compliance theater. Real decentralization would mean no OFAC lists. No banks. No governments. Just code. But you’re all too cozy with the system to see that.

It’s nice to see some progress for Syria. Hope it helps people there. I just hope the crypto access doesn’t get taken away again. It’s fragile.

Lightspark’s Grid Switch is brilliant but underreported. They’re using the Lightning Network as a settlement layer over Syria’s domestic system-so no crypto ever touches the end user. That’s how you do compliance without killing innovation. Also, OFAC’s adding wallet addresses to SDN? Genius move. Now even crypto can’t hide dirty money. This is the future of sanctions.

As a Nigerian, I see parallels. Our own banking system has been crippled by sanctions and restrictions for years. Crypto became our bridge. The fact that Syria is now using similar pathways gives me hope. But Cuba’s situation is heartbreaking-when the people are punished for the sins of their leaders, it’s never justice. It’s just cruelty.

Everyone’s acting like this is a breakthrough. It’s not. It’s just another way for the U.S. to control who gets to thrive. You think Syria’s free? They’re just on a different leash.

Let me be clear: this entire narrative is propaganda. Syria didn’t ‘cooperate’-they were forced into a deal under threat of total annihilation. Cuba didn’t ‘refuse’-they were punished for refusing to be a U.S. satellite. The U.S. doesn’t care about terrorism or drug cartels. They care about control. And now, with crypto, they’ve found the perfect tool: blockchain surveillance. Welcome to the digital iron curtain. You’re not free. You’re just being monitored by a different kind of cop.

Lightspark? Sounds like a startup name. Who even uses that? And why does everyone think blockchain analytics are foolproof? I’ve seen false positives on Chainalysis. You freeze a guy’s wallet because his uncle once sent him $100 and now he’s a terrorist? This whole system is broken.

Syria’s got a shot now. Let’s cheer for that. 🙌 Crypto’s not perfect, but it’s giving people power. Cuba? Tough. But change takes time. Keep building, keep sending. The tech will win in the end. 💪🌐

Wait, so if I send crypto to a Syrian business, and their supplier is on OFAC’s list, I’m liable? Even if I didn’t know? That’s insane. So now I need to run a full chain analysis on every single transaction? That’s not compliance-that’s a full-time job.