Chainalysis: Use of cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions is expected to surge by 700% by 2025.
PANews 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 Europe, 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 serves as a primary conduit for sanctioned Russian companies, processing $93.3 billion in transactions in less than a year and acting as a settlement track for cross-border trade. Linked to exchanges Grinex and Meer, it processed billions of dollars in transactions before being sanctioned by the US and EU. A7A5 also offers an "instant exchange" service, converting the token to mainstream US dollar stablecoins with minimal KYC checks, and has processed over $2.2 billion in transactions to date, effectively allowing sanctioned entities to access the broader crypto economy. Addresses associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps account for over 50% of the value received by Iranian services, transferring over $3 billion. North Korea remains the largest perpetrator of cyber theft, stealing over $2 billion in cryptocurrency by 2025. Stablecoins currently account for approximately 84% of illicit transactions.
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