Russian Entity Moves $6.1 Billion Through A7A5 Stablecoin
A Russian-controlled cryptocurrency entity has processed $6.1 billion in transactions using the A7A5 stablecoin since August 2025, despite US sanctions, according to the Financial Times (FT).
The A7A5 stablecoin is part of A7, Russia's growing cross-border payments network. It was created as an alternative to the US-dominated financial system, from which Russian banks were cut off following Russian-Ukranian war.
Journalists reported that operators liquidated most of their tokens after the Kyrgyz exchange Grinex and Old Vector (issuer of A7A5) were added to the sanctions list. Grinex, launched by the Garantex team, was also sanctioned.
How A7A5 Operators Conceal Transactions
The FT noted that A7A5 administrators destroyed wallets to conceal the assets' links to Garantex and Grinex. Over 33.8 billion tokens, worth approximately $405 million, were removed, and the same number of tokens were issued in a new wallet.
"Unlike a regular transfer, this method breaks the link between old and new accounts, making it difficult to connect sanctioned tokens with newly created ones," the journalists explained.
The new wallet showed patterns similar to previous cases: interacting with 11 counterparties, processing transfers mainly during business hours in Moscow, with peak activity from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and minimal activity at night and on weekends.
Operators on the TRON and Ethereum blockchains appear to have learned from prior liquidations, including the Garantex case.
A7A5 Gains Official Status and Expands Market Share
The FT highlighted that A7A5 has received official recognition in Russia and is backed by rubles through Promsvyazbank, which owns 49% of A7's infrastructure and is also sanctioned.
Financial experts estimate that A7 could now capture a significant share of Russia’s cross-border payments market. Beyond cryptocurrencies, the network offers traditional services, including payments via promissory notes.
In March 2025, USDT issuer Tether froze $28 million in addresses linked to Garantex, illustrating ongoing challenges in sanction enforcement.
