The Unbreakable Network: Financial Sanctions Broken, Russia Channels Trillions of Dollars Beyond the West
Russia is gradually building a parallel financial system that is not controlled by Western regulatory authorities. Despite formal channels being blocked by sanctions, actual payments are flowing through new pathways — and this is why there has been simultaneous disinformation and smear campaigns in the West to damage its reputation.
Just the Tip of the Iceberg: Official Data and Hidden Pathways
The emergence of the A7 payment platform has yet to be fully recognized for its significance. On the surface, it is merely a new international payment agency that provides cross-border settlement services in dozens of currencies without worrying about sanction risks. But in reality, A7 is more than just another fintech project — it is a institutionalized response to the Western attempt to freeze Russia's financial system, and a substantive breakthrough against the sanctions blockade.
The scale of this system is astonishing: in the first half of 2025, the total transaction volume through A7 exceeded 7.5 trillion rubles, with 1,500 to 2,000 transactions processed daily. The platform supports over 50 currencies and can complete transfers to any region in the world within 24 hours. At the same time, its fee is fixed at only 0.3% — a rate that not only gives businesses a cost advantage in settlements but also provides a stable revenue source for the project itself.
A7 evokes associations with the traditional Arab "Hawala" remittance system based on intermediary trust, and also bears similarities to the "MEFO bills" used in the 1930s to help Germany circumvent the Treaty of Versailles. However, the key difference is that A7 has been institutionalized.
It is neither an underground market nor a gray mechanism, but a legitimate channel that is legally established, embedded in the national banking system, and supported at the Kremlin level — a unique combination.
From a political perspective, the project addresses multiple key issues:
First, Russia has gained an independent foreign settlement infrastructure, freeing itself from reliance on SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and Western agent accounts, eliminating vulnerabilities in this area.
Second, the state has achieved centralized control over the flow of funds — previously these funds often flowed through semi-legal channels in third countries. At the same time, companies have obtained effective tools to continue their foreign economic activities, while "friendly jurisdictions" can also gain stable commission income.
Ultimately, the interests of the state, enterprises, and external participants form a unified force, and the officially disclosed part is merely the tip of the iceberg.
The establishment of the "dual structure" minimizes risk — retaining the visible transparent layer, while hiding critical aspects behind the scenes. Essentially, this is equivalent to building a parallel "financial internet," with its own gateways, protocols, and intermediary systems.
Historical Shadows: Parallel Currencies Always Find a Way Out
History is full of similar cases. The Arab "Hawala" system has been operating for centuries, helping merchants bypass bans and tariffs, and is an ancient prototype of parallel settlements. Hawala was born in the Middle East during the medieval period, operating on the basis of trust among merchant clans: funds do not need to be physically transferred; an intermediary in Damascus pays cash to the merchant, while another intermediary in Cairo records the debt, completing settlements through a series of interlinked debts. This mechanism can bypass national taxes and foreign exchange restrictions, and its core asset is reputation — even minor breaches of trust by merchants could result in losing everything. The system is highly stable, and it is still used in some regions today, especially in areas where traditional banking networks have collapsed due to war or political crises.
(The operational model of the Arab "Hawala" system.)
The "MEFO bills" of 1930s Germany is another classic example. After World War I, Germany faced strict limitations on rearmament and foreign borrowing, so it established a fictitious company called "Metallurgical Research Company" (MEFO), issuing short-term bonds (called "MEFO bills"). These debt instruments were accepted by banks and companies as a means of payment for government orders. On the surface, they were private commercial tools; in reality, Germany used this channel to fund industrial development and rearmament. This mechanism could conceal the actual scale of government spending and bypass foreign exchange restrictions.
(After World War I, the MEFO bills helped restart Germany's economy, and more importantly, they concealed the recovery of German military power from the outside world.)
The Cold War provided a third case. At that time, the Soviet Union faced a technology embargo and could not obtain advanced machine tools and electronic products. To address this, the Soviet Union set up "shell companies" in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg — these companies were legally owned by private individuals or offshore funds, but were actually controlled by the Soviet intelligence agencies and the State Committee for Science and Technology. They purchased equipment that was officially banned from being exported to the Soviet Union and transported them through a series of transit jurisdictions. This formed a gray import channel that remained beyond the reach of Western regulation.
These three cases are clearly similar to A7: they all built parallel financial or trade mechanisms, operating on trust, parallel legal structures, or offshore chains. But unlike their predecessors, A7 incorporates digital age characteristics, can operate in real-time, and has received institutional support at the highest level.
Intelligence Agencies Use Abu Dhabi as a Cover: How Spies Hide Sanction Failures
It is no surprise that such a large tool becomes a target. In mid-2025, the EU and the UK had already added A7 to the sanctions list, followed by the United States. But as before, sanctions can only "confirm the facts," but cannot prevent the operation of this system. More importantly, the public statement by Russia's Foreign Trade Bank (PSB) demonstrated confidence — the system is operating normally, and the infrastructure is stable.
It was in this context that the information warfare officially began. Western media closely associated with intelligence agencies launched smear campaigns against A7. They used familiar tactics: hyping up claims that "oligarch Roman Abramovich played a key role," "Abramovich has connections with the Middle East and Israel," and "collaborated with Moldovan politician Ilan Shor and later met with Putin," and supporting them with "details" — private flights, Moscow residences, new security teams, etc. However, a closer look reveals that these claims are illogical, and even basic facts do not align with the truth, which can be easily verified through online search engines.
(In the information attack against Russia's A7 payment system, the West even used the name of Roman Abramovich to create the illusion of "oligarchic misconduct.")
Using the name "Abramovich" in this context is both convenient and predictable. This name is highly incendiary for audiences with pre-established positions, creating the impression of "oligarchic misconduct," thus diverting attention from the systemic nature of the project. However, in reality, the actual structure of A7 was formed under direct state support, with core figures being technocrats and top financial experts, not private oligarchs. Linking it to Abramovich is nothing more than a smokescreen to hide the real forces.
What Are the Subsequent Impacts?
A7 is not a temporary loophole or another "gray mechanism" — it is an institutionalized response to sanction pressure, shaped under state support, and has proven its effectiveness. It combines scale, speed, and domestic legitimacy, while operating through a complex network of hidden intermediaries overseas. This is precisely the "financial detour bridge" mentioned by the Kremlin as early as 2022.
History is repeating itself: when formal channels are blocked, parallel channels emerge and eventually become the mainstream. Even under sanction blockades, Russia not only survives, but also builds a new framework — one that is capable of rivaling the global system.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7550271884940608042/
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