An interesting situation is unfolding in the Ukrainian crypto scene. Kuna — the oldest cryptocurrency exchange in the country, operating since 2014, suddenly closed after authorities blocked access to the platform. Everything happened without warning.

Founder of Kuna, Michael Chobanyan, learned about the blockage not from official sources, but from ordinary users who started complaining about access issues. He wrote on Telegram that he had not received any official information. It turned out that the State Service of Special Communications issued an order for Ukrainian internet providers to block the Kuna domain and all its subdomains.

This decision was based on a ruling from the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv and a request from the Bureau of Economic Security. But the most interesting part — the specific accusations have not been disclosed. The order is to remain in effect until martial law is lifted.

Kuna was not just one of the exchanges — it was a landmark platform for trading Bitcoin and Ethereum. In 2022, the exchange even partnered with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and organized the Crypto Fund for Ukraine, which raised over 100 million dollars in crypto donations to support the army.

Chobanyan stated that most providers have already complied with the requirements, and it’s only a matter of time before the rest follow. He also emphasized that Kuna was never summoned to court for defense. “We found out about the blocking from users,” he wrote.

Later, the founder hinted at the real reason — lack of contact with certain law enforcement agencies. His words carried a lot of irony: apparently, law enforcement in Ukraine “get to know each other through raids,” but since it’s hard to raid a virtual exchange, they just blocked the domain.

According to local media, the case involves tax evasion. Official sources claim that an examination confirmed deliberate evasion, which led to a court ruling. Ukraine’s potential losses are estimated at around 50 million hryvnias.

Now, Chobanyan announced the closure of Kuna and shifting focus to other projects — symbiocracy and artificial intelligence. Users have two months to withdraw their funds.

A surprising turn — despite the ban, the founder remains optimistic. He is observing the crypto revolution in the US, the addition of Bitcoin to foreign exchange reserves, and the growing interest in the TRUMP meme coin. Previously, Chobanyan criticized the National Bank of Ukraine for “killing” the local crypto market with its strict restrictions. It will be interesting to see how this story develops further.