Chainalysis: Use of cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions is expected to surge by 700% by 2025.

CoinFeed reported on March 6th that, according to a recent report by Chainalysis, sanctions-related illicit crypto activity surged in 2025, with sanctioned entities receiving at least $104 billion in cryptocurrency, a 700% increase from 2024, driving the total value of illicit on-chain transactions to $154 billion for the year. Countries sanctioned by the US and EU, such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea, are integrating cryptocurrencies into their national financial strategies to circumvent traditional banking systems. The report specifically points out that the ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5 is a major conduit for sanctioned Russian companies, processing $93.3 billion in transactions in less than a year, serving as a settlement track for cross-border trade by sanctioned Russian enterprises. This token is linked to exchanges Grinex and Meer, which processed billions of dollars in transactions before being sanctioned by the US and EU.