Crypto Moved $100B Past US Sanctions in 2025 While BRICS Is Still in Meetings

• Crypto sanctions evasion hit a record in 2025 as Russia, Iran, and North Korea moved $104 billion onchain
• Iran’s IRGC moved $3B+ for oil sales and arms procurement while North Korea stole $2B+ in crypto, including the $1.5B Bybit hack, the largest digital asset theft ever recorded
• Stablecoins drove 84% of all illicit crypto volume as sanctioned states built their own dollar alternatives while BRICS frameworks remain years from full deployment

For years, the conversation around BRICS and de-dollarization has centered on summit declarations, cross-border payment systems, and plans to reduce dependence on the US dollar. These initiatives are still evolving. Meanwhile, blockchain has already become a functioning financial rail for countries under sanctions. New data from Chainalysis shows that crypto sanctions evasion accelerated dramatically in 2025. It should be noted that Russia, Iran, and North Korea moved more than $104 billion through digital assets as traditional banking channels tighten.

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How Crypto Sanctions Evasion Helped Russia, Iran, and North Korea Replace the Dollar

The latest Chainalysis Crypto Crime Report found that sanctioned entities received at least $104 billion in cryptocurrency during 2025. This marks a 694% increase from the previous year. The surge pushed total illicit on-chain transaction volume to a record $154 billion. It points to how digital assets have become part of state-level financial infrastructure rather than simply a tool for cybercriminals.

Stablecoins accounted for roughly 84% of illicit transaction volume. The biggest contributor to Russia’s crypto sanctions activity was A7A5, a ruble-backed stablecoin designed to facilitate international trade outside the traditional banking system.

According to Chainalysis, the token processed $93.3 billion in transactions in less than a year. Investigators also identified an “A7A5 Instant Swapper” that converted the token into mainstream dollar-backed stablecoins with minimal know-your-customer requirements. This allowed sanctioned entities to access the crypto economy.

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BRICS De-dollarization Remains a Long-Term Project

While Russia built its own blockchain-based settlement network, BRICS and its de-dollarization agenda continue to move more slowly. Initiatives such as BRICS Pay, the BRICS Unit, and the mBridge cross-border payment platform remain under development, with no unified alternative to the dollar available today.

In addition, Iran’s crypto payments expanded significantly during 2025 despite sanctions. Chainalysis estimates that wallets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) processed more than $3 billion, supporting regional proxy groups, oil exports and procurement networks. With the CLARITY Act underway, the US government is hinting at new sanctions directed towards Iran.

North Korea’s crypto activity reached another record. The report attributes more than $2 billion in stolen digital assets to Pyongyang-linked hackers. This includes the $1.5 billion Bybit hack, the largest cryptocurrency theft on record. Western officials say those funds ultimately support weapons development and military procurement. Chainalysis senior intelligence analyst Kaitlin Martin told The Wall Street Journal,

“Crypto has changed the sanctions evasion game significantly.”

These developments suggest that while governments continue debating new payment systems and reserve currencies, blockchain networks are already being used as an operational alternative by heavily sanctioned states. This does not diminish the dollar’s global dominance. But it does show how crypto sanctions evasion has evolved from isolated transactions into an increasingly sophisticated part of geopolitical finance.

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