Exchange record
Shelbit
Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange subject to VARA enforcement in July 2026 and subsequent U.S. sanctions reporting in August 2026. Public operating status is disputed: Shelbit said it had ceased operations in January 2026, while VARA said in July that the entity had continued providing unlicensed virtual-asset services, so HEI keeps the record inactive rather than dead.
Registry sequence
Key facts
URL handling
Summary
Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange subject to VARA enforcement in July 2026 and subsequent U.S. sanctions reporting in August 2026. Public operating status is disputed: Shelbit said it had ceased operations in January 2026, while VARA said in July that the entity had continued providing unlicensed virtual-asset services, so HEI keeps the record inactive rather than dead.
Timeline
Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority said Shelbit General Trading L.L.C had continued providing virtual-asset services without a valid licence, onboarding users without required KYC checks and marketing services without authorisation. VARA imposed financial penalties and directed the entity to cease all unlicensed virtual-asset activities in or from Dubai immediately.
Reuters reported that the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Shelbit, founder Siavash Kayvanpour and associated companies, alleging that Shelbit processed digital assets for Iran-linked sanctioned actors including the IRGC.