US Targets Russia's Shadow Banking Network Over Sanctions Evasion

The US Treasury has taken action against Russia's A7 Network, designating it as a transnational criminal organization. The network was used by Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to evade sanctions.

FinCEN proposed a rule that would prohibit U.S. institutions from transferring funds involving front companies used by A7. The proposal covers both fiat and convertible virtual currencies, including the A7A5 token.

According to FinCEN, more than 180 entities moved at least $179.1 billion in A7's ruble-backed A7A5 token between February 2025 and June 2026. This token is used as a bridge into USDT and then fiat.