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LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE

Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion

Use of digital assets facilitates evasion of Western sanctions

25 June 2025 · 22:06 UTC

Russian entities have utilized cryptocurrency to conduct approximately $9 billion in transactions aimed at circumventing Western sanctions.

These digital assets have been employed to procure high-tech components, including parts for drones and other military equipment, through complex networks involving intermediaries and offshore accounts.

The use of cryptocurrencies like Tether has enabled Russian actors to bypass traditional financial systems, raising concerns among international regulators about the role of digital currencies in facilitating illicit trade and undermining global sanctions regimes.