US sanctions Russia-linked A7 network that moved $17B for Iran and others, and blocks its A7A5 ruble stablecoin

The US Treasury has sanctioned the Russia-linked A7 network and blocked its A7A5 ruble-backed token, saying the group moved more than $17 billion through sub-agents to help Iran and other actors evade sanctions. FinCEN also proposed barring US financial institutions from handling funds tied to those sub-agents, including transfers in convertible virtual currency.

A7 network faces sweeping U.S. sanctions

OFAC designated the network as a significant transnational criminal organization, while FinCEN proposed restrictions that would prevent covered U.S. financial institutions from transmitting funds involving identified Sub-Agents connected to the network.

Treasury said the broader financial structure used companies operating in third countries to make restricted payments appear to be legitimate commercial transactions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the enforcement effort as part of a broader attempt to disrupt financial channels used to circumvent U.S. sanctions.

“Treasury is dismantling the financial infrastructure that allows Iran and other adversaries to evade sanctions, move illicit funds, and undermine the integrity of the global financial system.” – Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary.

The Treasury Department said the latest action expands on earlier designations announced in August 2025 involving entities associated with the network, including A7 LLC and Old Vector LLC.

FinCEN traces more than $17 billion in transactions

At the center of the case is FinCEN’s finding that Sub-Agents associated with the A7 network processed more than $17 billion between January 2025 and June 2026.

According to Treasury, these Sub-Agents operated across multiple jurisdictions and were structured to receive and transfer funds while obscuring the parties ultimately controlling the transactions.

Authorities also alleged that the network relied on falsified trade documents, misleading descriptions of goods and manipulated import-export records to make restricted payments resemble ordinary business activity.

The investigation also identified activity involving Iranian financial interests, oil transactions, procurement networks and cybercriminal activity.

Treasury said one Sub-Agent and an affiliated company received nearly $140 million from entities associated with Iranian sanctions evasion, while another transferred approximately $1.6 million to a company linked by U.S. authorities to Iranian sanctions evasion and weapons procurement.

The network’s reported scale is considerably broader than the $17 billion figure alone. Treasury said that, by January 2026, the organization claimed to process more than 2,000 transactions daily and reported cumulative transaction volume exceeding 7.5 trillion rubles, equivalent at the time to about $91.5 billion.

Bessent also warned that organizations helping sanctioned actors could face consequences within the U.S. financial system.

A7 network’s crypto connection centers on A7A5

The crypto component of the case revolves around A7A5, a ruble-backed token issued by Old Vector LLC.

Treasury identified A7A5 as blocked property and said the token formed part of the financial infrastructure associated with the network.

According to the department, the token was created to allow participants to conduct international transactions while generating revenue for infrastructure providers already subject to U.S. sanctions.

Crypto.news reported that FinCEN’s investigation identified more than 180 entities that processed at least $179.1 billion in A7A5 transactions between February 2025 and June 2026.

The enforcement action therefore gives investors another example of how regulators are examining the intersection between traditional finance, stablecoins and cross-border payment networks.

OFAC had already sanctioned Old Vector in August 2025, alongside other entities connected with the network.

The latest designation now places the broader organization under U.S. blocking measures, expanding the potential compliance implications for financial institutions and businesses that interact with identified entities.

A7 network restrictions could reshape payment flows

The OFAC designation is already effective, while FinCEN’s proposed transfer restriction remains subject to the rulemaking process.

Under the OFAC action, property and interests in property belonging to the designated organization that are located in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are blocked.

The restrictions can also apply to entities owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly, by blocked persons under OFAC’s applicable rules.

FinCEN’s proposal would add another layer by restricting covered U.S. financial institutions from transmitting funds involving specified Sub-Agents.

The proposed measure covers conventional financial transfers as well as convertible virtual currency, making it particularly relevant to businesses operating across the traditional finance and digital-asset sectors.

FinCEN has also issued an alert identifying potential warning signs associated with the network, including unusually high-volume activity involving shell companies, questionable trade documentation and payment routes spanning several jurisdictions.

Financial institutions submitting related Suspicious Activity Reports have been instructed to use the identifier FIN-2026-A7NETWORK.

The proposed rule will undergo a 30-day public comment period after publication in the Federal Register. Until that process is completed, the proposed transfer restrictions should not be confused with a final rule.

Businesses dealing with sanctioned entities or associated payment infrastructure may face increased screening requirements, while digital-asset platforms could encounter additional pressure to identify wallets, companies and transaction routes connected to sanctioned networks.

The U.S. measures also follow action from the United Kingdom, whose National Crime Agency issued an August 31 alert concerning the use of third-country financial companies in activity involving Russian and Iranian sanctions evasion.