New Investigation Links Russian Oligarchs To A7 Stablecoin Operations In Kremlin-Sanctioned Global Financial Bypass

An investigation reveals that Roman Abramovich and Kremlin elites are using the A7 payments system and A7A5 stablecoin to bypass Western financial sanctions.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 2, 2026, 6:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Proyekt.

The Emergence Of A Kremlin-Blessed Financial Gateway

A sophisticated sanctions evasion network has been identified as the primary vehicle for Russian oligarchs and state-linked entities to conduct international business despite Western blockades. According to a Proyekt investigation published on April 29, 2026, the payments company A7 has become an essential pillar of the Russian economy, now accounting for approximately 15 percent of all cross-border monetary transactions. The company’s influence was highlighted during the opening of its Vladivostok branch in September 2025, an event marked by a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by President Vladimir Putin. This high-level endorsement signals the strategic importance the Kremlin places on alternative financial systems to sustain its wartime economy and elite wealth.

The Role Of The A7A5 Ruble-Pegged Stablecoin

At the center of A7’s operations is the A7A5, a cryptocurrency marketed as the world’s first stablecoin pegged to the Russian ruble. The digital asset is backed by deposits held at PSB (Promsvyazbank), a Moscow-based institution heavily involved in financing Russia’s military investments. Using legal entities based in Kyrgyzstan to facilitate the system, the stablecoin allows users to transfer value across borders without passing through the SWIFT network or traditional Western banking infrastructure. Money-laundering experts have described the volume of transactions processed through A7A5 as "phenomenal," concluding that the system was specifically engineered to facilitate sanctioned trade and capital flight.

Oligarch Ties and the Slang Concept Of A Roof

The investigation alleges that several of Russia’s most prominent figures are active participants in the A7 network. Billionaire Roman Abramovich is not only listed as a user but is reported by Proyekt to serve as the "roof" (krysha) for the company—a term in Russian criminal and business slang describing an influential protector who ensures the entity's security and political standing. While Abramovich has denied these assertions, the report also links former Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Nikolai Patrushev to the system. Other users identified in the leak include Novatek CEO Leonid Mikhelson, developer Arkady Rotenberg, and Systema conglomerate head Vladimir Yevtushenkov, suggesting a broad adoption of the platform among the Kr...