The A7 Network: Russia’s Digital Sanctions Workaround

A leaked document has exposed a sprawling crypto operation linked to Moscow, revealing nearly $8 billion in digital assets moved through shadowy networks to bypass Western sanctions and fund political influence campaigns in Moldova.

The leak underscores crypto’s growing role as a weapon of hybrid warfare—a battlefield where money, technology, and geopolitical ambition converge.

Blockchain forensics firm Elliptic has mapped a complex system called the A7 network, allegedly orchestrated by Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor. Over an 18-month period, the network reportedly funneled $8 billion using a ruble-backed stablecoin, A7A5, registered in Kyrgyzstan.

The A7A5 stablecoin was an instrument designed by Russia to sidestep Western controls, particularly USDT’s restrictions, enabling Russian actors to move funds outside traditional oversight.

Promsvyazbank—a Russian bank already sanctioned for military financing—appears to control nearly half of the network. Millions in Tether were reportedly injected to stabilize liquidity, while transactions were routed through Kyrgyz companies and split between traditional banking and crypto channels.

Among the cited recipients is Maria Albot, a former Moldovan political official sanctioned by the European Union, who allegedly received substantial USDT transfers to designated wallets.

The leaks suggest the A7 network was not just financial but political. According to the documents, the Taito app was allegedly used to distribute crypto directly to local activists in Moldova, while call centers organized illegal polls.

Furthermore, Telegram bots were reportedly used for payment distribution after simple identity checks without proper controls.

These revelations surfaced just ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary elections, highlighting the potential use of digital assets for vote-buying and election interference.

A Broader Geopolitical Shift

The documents point to a strategic evolution: Moscow is increasingly bypassing Western banking systems, exploring a state-run crypto bank, and modeling frameworks on Belarus to regulate mining and legitimize crypto flows.

Although blockchain forensic analysis carries inherent uncertainty, the leaked wallet data provide Western regulators with concrete targets for sanctions and freezes.

The Moldovan case illustrates a global trend: sanctioned states are constructing their own digital financial rails, reshaping power dynamics and challenging Western control over money flows. Crypto is no longer just an asset class—it has become a strategic tool in international geopolitics.