STABLECOINS | The Fastest Growing Stablecoin in 2025 Pushes into Africa

A Russian cryptocurrency payments network operating under Western sanctions is stepping up efforts to expand across Africa, signaling Moscow’s broader push to build alternative financial rails outside the global dollar system.

A recent job posting on a Russian recruitment platform sought a project manager to launch operations in Togo for A7, a crypto-based payments network backed by sanctioned entities including a state-linked defence bank and fugitive Moldovan businessman, Ilan Șor. The role involved building the business from the ground up, another indication of Russia’s growing financial ambitions on the continent.

The move comes as Russia continues to adapt to sweeping Western sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine which cut major banks off from the SWIFT messaging system and restricted cross-border transactions.

A7, founded in 2024, has positioned itself as a workaround using tools such as stablecoins and promissory note structures to facilitate international payments in Rubles. The company claims it can enable fast, uninterrupted transactions for trading partners though the scale of its operations remains difficult to verify.

Africa Expansion Gains Visibility, But Questions Remain

Promotional materials and social media footage suggest A7 opened an office in Lagos, Nigeria in 2025 and announced a branch in Harare, Zimbabwe. However, its on-the-ground presence appears limited. Industry participants in both Nigeria and Zimbabwe told reporters they were unfamiliar with the platform and there is little digital footprint to confirm active operations.

A report by the Centre for Information Resilience noted the lack of verifiable activity, raising questions about how functional these offices are beyond announcements and promotional events.

Still, Russian officials have publicly backed the initiative. Speaking at a Russia-Africa conference in Cairo, Egypt, Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, described A7 as the country’s “first international financial platform,” claiming Nigeria and Zimbabwe had already joined and encouraging other African nations to follow.

Lavrov also noted that a growing share of Russia’s trade with Africa is being settled in Rubles underscoring a strategic shift toward local currency transactions and away from the U.S dollar.

Geopolitics Meets Payments Infrastructure

A7’s expansion aligns with Russia’s broader geopolitical engagement in Africa where it has deepened ties through trade agreements, military cooperation, and political outreach particularly in countries experiencing instability or leadership transitions.

Analysts say the payments network could be part of a wider effort to embed Russian financial infrastructure into these relationships.

Backers of A7 have framed the system as a response to what they describe as “illegitimate” sanctions, but also as a scalable platform for countries seeking alternatives to Western-dominated financial systems.

US sanctions have prompted similar, albeit limited, efforts globally to develop non-dollar settlement mechanisms. Russia’s approach, blending crypto tools with state-backed financial entities, marks one of the more aggressive attempts to operationalize such a system.

Unclear Adoption, Strategic Intent

Despite bold claims, A7’s actual usage remains uncertain. The company has said it processes a significant portion of Russia’s foreign trade but those figures cannot be independently confirmed.

Events tied to its African rollout have drawn a mix of business figures and political affiliates though not all attendees appear to have direct involvement in the platform itself.

What is clear is the intent: to create a sanctions-resistant payments ecosystem and extend it into regions where Russia’s political and economic influence is growing.

As global financial fragmentation accelerates, Africa is increasingly becoming a testing ground for alternative systems and Russia is positioning A7 as one of its key instruments.

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into stablecoins in Africa.

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