US Sanctions $17 Billion Russia-Linked Crypto Payment Network

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on A7 Network, a Russia-linked crypto payment network, and proposed new restrictions to cut its intermediaries off from global markets. The measures target a shadow-payment system that has helped Russian sanctioned entities, Iran's central bank, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps move money through companies designed to make restricted transactions resemble ordinary commercial payments.

A7 Network processed more than $17 billion in dollar-denominated transactions between January 2025 and June 2026. The network claimed in January to be handling more than 2,000 transactions a day worth the equivalent of $91.5 billion, or about 13% of Russia's 2025 foreign trade.

A7 uses its ruble-backed A7A5 token as a bridge into assets with deeper global liquidity. The network frequently converts the token into more widely accepted digital assets, including Tether's USDT ($1.00 · Live), which can subsequently be exchanged into fiat currency for international payments.