Key Takeaways
- • Italy's CONSOB ordered blocking of 10 cryptocurrency websites operating illegally without authorization, bringing the total number of blocked sites to 1,681 since July 2019, with 178 specifically related to crypto-asset services.
- • The regulatory action targets platforms identified as "Erw326," "EwdS66," "Hjk172," "Sdd316," "Yue157," "Yyt369," "Asd967," "Etww78," "Zzx726," and "Rtut62"—all operating under suspicious, non-standard naming conventions indicative of fraudulent operations.
- • CONSOB's enforcement authority derives from Italy's "Growth Decree" and MiCAR (EU Regulation and Legislative Decree No. 129/2024), establishing a regulatory framework requiring crypto-asset service providers to obtain proper authorization and publish prospectuses or white papers.
- • Internet connectivity providers in Italy are implementing the blocking orders, though technical implementation may require several days to complete across all ISP networks.
- • CONSOB emphasized that investors must verify operator authorization status and demand published prospectuses before engaging with crypto-asset platforms, noting evolving deceptive practices designed to steal user funds and personal data.
Summary
Italy's Companies and Exchange Commission (CONSOB) has ordered the blocking of 10 websites offering unauthorized cryptocurrency and crypto-asset services, according to a regulatory announcement dated May 4, 2026. The targeted platforms—identified as "Erw326," "EwdS66," "Hjk172," "Sdd316," "Yue157," "Yyt369," "Asd967," "Etww78," "Zzx726," and "Rtut62"—operate under generic domain names ending in ".it," suggesting they are designed to evade regulatory scrutiny and deceive Italian retail investors.
This enforcement action represents part of CONSOB's broader crackdown on unauthorized financial service providers. Since July 2019, the regulator has ordered blocking of 1,681 websites in total, of which 178 specifically concern crypto-related activities. The escalating number of blocked platforms underscores the growing challenge of illegal crypto-asset service provision in Italy and the EU more broadly, despite the implementation of comprehensive regulatory frameworks.
CONSOB's authority to issue blocking orders stems from Italy's "Growth Decree" and MiCAR (EU Regulation and Legislative Decree No. 129/2024), which established a harmonized regulatory regime for crypto-asset service providers across EU member states. Under these frameworks, any platform offering crypto-asset services must obtain prior authorization from national regulators and publish prospectuses or white papers. The blocking orders have been transmitted to internet connectivity providers operating in Italy, with implementation expected to extend over several days due to technical requirements.
The regulator issued a formal advisory to Italian savers, recommending they exercise diligence before investing in crypto-assets or other financial products. CONSOB specifically urged investors to verify that service operators hold required authorization and that published prospectuses are available. The Authority also flagged the evolution of deceptive online practices designed to compromise investor funds and personal data, signaling that fraudulent crypto platforms are employing increasingly sophisticated social engineering and technical evasion tactics to circumvent regulatory detection.
This enforcement action represents part of CONSOB's broader crackdown on unauthorized financial service providers. Since July 2019, the regulator has ordered blocking of 1,681 websites in total, of which 178 specifically concern crypto-related activities. The escalating number of blocked platforms underscores the growing challenge of illegal crypto-asset service provision in Italy and the EU more broadly, despite the implementation of comprehensive regulatory frameworks.
CONSOB's authority to issue blocking orders stems from Italy's "Growth Decree" and MiCAR (EU Regulation and Legislative Decree No. 129/2024), which established a harmonized regulatory regime for crypto-asset service providers across EU member states. Under these frameworks, any platform offering crypto-asset services must obtain prior authorization from national regulators and publish prospectuses or white papers. The blocking orders have been transmitted to internet connectivity providers operating in Italy, with implementation expected to extend over several days due to technical requirements.
The regulator issued a formal advisory to Italian savers, recommending they exercise diligence before investing in crypto-assets or other financial products. CONSOB specifically urged investors to verify that service operators hold required authorization and that published prospectuses are available. The Authority also flagged the evolution of deceptive online practices designed to compromise investor funds and personal data, signaling that fraudulent crypto platforms are employing increasingly sophisticated social engineering and technical evasion tactics to circumvent regulatory detection.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.