The European Union is finalizing a new sanctions package to prevent Russia from using cryptocurrency to evade restrictions. The proposed measures aim to ban all crypto transactions with Russia to close existing loopholes, unlike previous efforts targeting specific entities. The sanctions are expected to target 20 additional Russian regional banks and foreign lenders like Kyrgyz banks Keremet and OJSC Capital Bank of Central Asia. The EU seeks to prevent engagement with any Russian-based crypto service provider or platform for asset transfer and exchange.
Despite facing sanctions, Russia-linked payments platform A7A5 has emerged as one of the largest non-dollar stablecoins in 2025. Denying claims of sanctions evasion, A7A5 operator has seen rapid growth in market value. Global Ledger identified patterns of wash trading inflating A7A5’s volumes, casting doubt on the EU’s ability to enforce crypto sanctions and restrict Russia-related transactions.
Global Ledger co-founder Lex Fisun questions the EU’s blanket ban on Russian crypto activity targeting stablecoins like A7A5. Fisun highlights the decentralized nature of liquidity, allowing holders to swap tokens via on-chain pools without centralized intermediaries. He believes enforcing a ban would require blocking flows from global trading hubs, potentially disrupting the legitimate crypto market. Decentralized infrastructure remains resistant to direct censorship, making a complete technical blockade unlikely.
Read more at Cointelegraph.com
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