Sanctions, crypto, and a $154B shadow flow.
By Maxime Laurent · 2026-03-09 11:13
Sanctions, crypto, and a $154B shadow flow.
A report says sanctioned entities received $154B in crypto in 2025, up nearly 700%. Yet illegal activity still remains under 1% of the market.
Every time I read numbers like this, I’m reminded how crypto keeps slipping through the cracks of the traditional system. Quietly, almost invisibly. 🌍
According to a new Chainalysis report, wallets linked to sanctioned entities received around $154 billion in crypto during 2025. That’s a 694% jump compared to the previous year — a massive surge that shows how seriously some actors are turning toward blockchain rails.
And it’s not just random wallets.
Countries under heavy sanctions are increasingly using crypto infrastructure to move value. The report points to activity connected to Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
A few numbers stood out to me:
• A ruble-linked stablecoin called A7A5 reportedly processed about $93B in transactions in less than a year.
• Wallets tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard received over $3B.
• North Korean hackers alone stole more than $2B in digital assets during 2025.
When you step back, it almost feels inevitable. If financial borders exist, people will search for ways around them. Crypto just happens to be the most efficient tool humans have built so far for moving value globally.
But here’s the nuance that often gets lost in headlines.
Even with all this activity, illicit transactions still represent less than 1% of the entire crypto market. The overwhelming majority of usage remains perfectly ordinary — trading, saving, building, experimenting.
Still, stories like this will definitely fuel the regulatory debate again. Governments don’t like losing control of financial pipes.
And crypto? It was literally designed to route around obstacles. Pas étonnant.
#Crypto #Bitcoin #BTC #Blockchain #Sanctions #CryptoRegulation
A report says sanctioned entities received $154B in crypto in 2025, up nearly 700%. Yet illegal activity still remains under 1% of the market.
Every time I read numbers like this, I’m reminded how crypto keeps slipping through the cracks of the traditional system. Quietly, almost invisibly. 🌍
According to a new Chainalysis report, wallets linked to sanctioned entities received around $154 billion in crypto during 2025. That’s a 694% jump compared to the previous year — a massive surge that shows how seriously some actors are turning toward blockchain rails.
And it’s not just random wallets.
Countries under heavy sanctions are increasingly using crypto infrastructure to move value. The report points to activity connected to Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
A few numbers stood out to me:
• A ruble-linked stablecoin called A7A5 reportedly processed about $93B in transactions in less than a year.
• Wallets tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard received over $3B.
• North Korean hackers alone stole more than $2B in digital assets during 2025.
When you step back, it almost feels inevitable. If financial borders exist, people will search for ways around them. Crypto just happens to be the most efficient tool humans have built so far for moving value globally.
But here’s the nuance that often gets lost in headlines.
Even with all this activity, illicit transactions still represent less than 1% of the entire crypto market. The overwhelming majority of usage remains perfectly ordinary — trading, saving, building, experimenting.
Still, stories like this will definitely fuel the regulatory debate again. Governments don’t like losing control of financial pipes.
And crypto? It was literally designed to route around obstacles. Pas étonnant.
#Crypto #Bitcoin #BTC #Blockchain #Sanctions #CryptoRegulation
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice.