Fireblocks automatically blocks outgoing transactions to wallet addresses sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Fireblocks' Legal and Compliance team subscribes to OFAC's public Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list and adds sanctioned addresses to Fireblocks' own backend systems to block transfers to them.
This is not something you configure. It is a baseline check that runs automatically, before your own policy rules, on every outgoing transaction across every workspace.
What this does not do
Fireblocks maintaining this check does not relieve you of your own sanctions compliance obligations. Attempting to send funds to a sanctioned address violates your Master Services Agreement with Fireblocks and can result in its termination. Complying with the export control and trade sanctions laws that apply to your own jurisdiction remains your responsibility.
Outgoing transactions
When you submit a transfer to an address on OFAC's SDN list, Fireblocks recognizes it against its backend list and blocks the transfer automatically, before your own policy rules are checked.
The failure looks slightly different depending on how you submitted the transaction:
- Console: the transaction panel shows Reason: Blocked by Policy; Transaction History shows the status and sub-status Blocked / Blocked By Policy.
- API: the transaction details show the status BLOCKED with the sub-status BLOCKED_BY_POLICY. See About Identity & Compliance on the Developer Portal.
Incoming transactions
Fireblocks cannot block an incoming transaction from reaching your wallet; that is not something the blockchain allows. If you receive funds from a sanctioned address, you can freeze or isolate them based on your own compliance policy. Fireblocks recommends using an AML/KYT integration, such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, or TRM Labs, to detect this kind of high-risk deposit automatically and act on it according to your policy.
FAQ
The questions below are the ones readers ask most often.
Can I check whether an address is sanctioned myself?
Yes. OFAC's SDN list is public; you can download or search it directly at any time.
Does this check replace my own sanctions compliance program?
No. It is a baseline protection Fireblocks applies on its own systems. You are still responsible for complying with the sanctions and export control laws that apply to you.