The first phase of
sanctions targeted individuals, but these new measures prohibits U.S. institutions from
trading new bonds with the government of Venezuela or state - owned oil company PDVSA, a move intended to choke off the
regime's finances.
As politicians from Washington to Seoul consider imposing new
sanctions on North Korea, Kim Jong Un's
regime appears to be stepping up efforts to secure bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that could be used to avoid additional
trade restrictions.