Crypto Coin for Russian Shadow Payments Moves $9bn – A Sanctions Evading Stablecoin Storm

A7A5 has a controversial background because it is connected to some questionable people and companies under sanctions. The token was originally issued by a company called A7, which was mostly owned by Ilan Shor, a Moldovan businessman who was punished for fraud. Although A7A5 has now claimed that Shor’s company and A7 have separated due to “different visions,” there are signs that they might still be connected. For example, they still share some digital infrastructure and websites linked to Shor’s political activities in Moldova.

Additionally, a Russian state-owned bank called Promsvyazbank (PSB), which is under sanctions from the US, UK, and EU, still owns part of A7A5. This makes the situation even more complicated and raises questions about the token’s legitimacy.

A7’s job postings in the UAE, Kyrgyzstan, and Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions, along with reported negotiations with Keremet Bank (sanctioned by OFAC in January 2025) to facilitate sanctions evasion, underscore the project’s geopolitical reach. This opaque and politically charged ownership structure positions A7A5 not merely as a financial tool, but as a potential instrument for bypassing international restrictions, reinforcing its role in enabling $9 billion in Russian shadow payments.

Concerns Over Sanctions Evasion and Political Interference

The Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), a prominent watchdog specializing in disinformation and financial crime, has conducted a comprehensive investigation into A7A5. According to CIR, A7 has engineered a hybrid financial infrastructure that merges traditional fiat systems with cryptocurrency rails, enabling the movement of funds into and out of Russia a development that undermines existing sanction frameworks. CIR’s findings further highlight that A7A5 shares digital infrastructure with domains associated with Ilan Shor’s pro-Russian political operations in Moldova, raising serious concerns about the token’s role in political influence campaigns.

CIR’s report also references documentation by Moldovan authorities, indicating that Shor and Promsvyazbank (PSB) have previously used illicit funds, including crypto assets, to advance Russian interests in Moldovan politics. This adds a geopolitical dimension to A7A5’s activities, suggesting it may serve not only as a financial workaround to sanctions but also as a tool for political interference.

A Challenge to Global Sanctions

The rise of A7A5 shows how international sanctions can be less effective in the age of cryptocurrency. When traditional banking systems block access, countries and sanctioned groups are using digital money to keep doing business across borders. This change makes it harder for sanctions to work, since cryptocurrencies can often avoid regular financial regulations. For Russia, A7A5 acts as a financial workaround, helping them stay involved in global trade even though they are cut off from major banks.

But this workaround can also lead to illegal activities, like funding political meddling or other sanctioned behaviors. The rise of tools like A7A5 shows that the global community needs to update its strategies. This means better international cooperation, better tools to analyze blockchain transactions, and new rules specifically for stablecoins and crypto exchanges. People discussing this online, including on platforms like Reddit, agree that we need to act fast to make sure new digital technologies don’t outpace the systems designed to keep global finance secure and fair.

 A Symbol of Evolving Geopolitics