Sanctioned Russian Network A7A5 Bypasses U.S. Sanctions – Moves Over $6 Billion

A Kremlin-backed payment system, A7A5, has become Moscow’s newest tool for bypassing global financial restrictions.

According to Financial Times, the network has processed over $6 billion in cross-border payments since August, following the imposition of U.S. sanctions on its operators.

A7A5 Stablecoin – Russia’s “Digital Ruble” for Global Trade The A7A5 stablecoin, backed by the Russian ruble, is the centerpiece of a parallel financial infrastructure known as A7, partly owned by Promsvyazbank — a state-linked lender supporting Russia’s defense industry.

The network emerged after Moscow was cut off from the international SWIFT system in response to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. When Washington sanctioned affiliated exchanges like Grinex, A7A5 operators reacted with a bold maneuver: they destroyed over 80% of the original tokens and immediately reissued new ones, effectively breaking the link between “blacklisted” and “clean” funds.

Digital Traces Erased – But the Money Remains Following U.S. sanctions in August, A7A5 administrators wiped out two wallets tied to Grinex that held 33.8 billion tokens worth $405 million.

Using a command called destroyBlackFunds, they marked the assets as “dirtyShares,” then minted an identical volume of new tokens in fresh wallets. One of these new wallets, labeled TNpJj, has since processed transactions worth more than $6.1 billion.

Analysts note that this isn’t a simple transfer of funds but a complete token reset — a process that makes tracking the source of money nearly impossible.

Moscow at the Center of Operations Evidence suggests that the A7A5 network operates from Moscow, with transactions concentrated during weekday business hours (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and little to no activity overnight or on weekends. The A7A5 chatbot even advertises operating hours matching Moscow’s business day, while customers can reportedly purchase tokens in cash through an “over-the-counter Grinex section” inside Federation Tower — the same location previously used by the sanctioned Garantex exchange.

A7A5 Gains Legal Status – Russia Builds an Alternative Financial System Russian authorities have now formalized A7A5 as a digital financial asset, granting it official status for use in cross-border trade.

Exporters and importers can now legally transact via a platform owned by Promsvyazbank, with each token backed by the ruble. Promsvyazbank holds a 49% stake in the A7 network, which is now expanding into Africa.

CEO Petr Fradkov told President Vladimir Putin: “We are building a cross-border payment system based on A7.”

Oligarchs, State Financing, and Rapid Expansion The A7 network is being funded by the Russian state development bank VEB, while its majority shareholder and CEO, Ilan Șor, is a Moldovan oligarch living in Moscow and wanted for corruption.

Șor claims the network has processed over $86 billion in just ten months. Analysts from the Centre for Information Resilience warn that A7 is “rapidly expanding, largely financed by loans from Russian state institutions,” and could become a key pillar of Russia’s wartime economy.

Western Response: A New Financial Threat Emerges U.S. officials view A7A5 as a new generation of sanctioned crypto systems, combining blockchain technology with Kremlin backing.

Western analysts warn that the model could inspire other authoritarian regimes to develop sovereign digital payment networks beyond the reach of the U.S. dollar. If A7 continues its rapid growth, it could soon become Russia’s most significant trade channel outside the traditional banking sector — and a symbol of a new global financial divide.

#russia , #Sanctions , #blockchain , #Geopolitics , #Stablecoins

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies! Notice: ,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“