Sanctioned A7A5 Sponsors TOKEN2049 Amid $1.2 Billion Market Claim

- Sanctioned ruble stablecoin A7A5 sponsors TOKEN2049 at platinum level. - Organizers remove A7A5 references after media inquiries on sanctions evasion. The TOKEN2049 crypto conference in Singapore faced scrutiny in October 2025 for hosting A7A5, a ruble-backed stablecoin sanctioned by the U.S. and U.K. 2025-10-03 On October 3, 2025, Reuters reported that A7A5 was a platinum sponsor, the event's highest tier, despite accusations tying it to a Russian platform allegedly used to evade international sanctions. After media inquiries, conference organizers swiftly removed references to A7A5 from their website, which included scrubbing a planned keynote speech by its director of international development. However, A7A5 still maintained a visible presence at the venue, as the company featured a branded booth and had uniformed staff engaging with attendees throughout the conference. Oleg Ogienko, A7A5’s director of international development, admitted during the event that entities backing the stablecoin were under sanctions but denied any allegations of money laundering. Ogienko asserted that the company complies with Kyrgyzstan’s virtual-asset laws and also highlighted A7A5’s market influence by claiming a $1.2 billion market cap and a dominant 44% share of the non-USD stablecoin sector. In August 2025, the U.S. and U.K. sanctioned entities connected to A7A5, citing their roles in helping Russia evade financial sanctions. Despite these actions, the token and its backers remain operational in regions such as Singapore and Hong Kong, which allows for sustained international activity. This incident highlights the geopolitical complexities of stablecoins, as they are increasingly used as alternatives amid intensifying global financial restrictions.