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Elliptic Report Ties Five Crypto Platforms to Russian Sanctions Evasion

New on-chain analysis quantifies ruble-to-crypto routes that bypass banks to reach sanctioned entities.

Overview

  • Elliptic names Bitpapa, ABCeX, Exmo/Exmo.me, Rapira and Aifory Pro as channels converting rubles to crypto through P2P networks, brokered trades and shared custodial wallets.
  • Bitpapa, sanctioned by OFAC in 2024, directs about 9.7% of outflows to sanctioned targets including Garantex while masking activity through constant wallet rotation.
  • ABCeX operates from Moscow’s Federation Tower, has processed at least $11 billion, and has sent funds to Garantex and Aifory Pro using wallet-hiding tactics.
  • On-chain data shows Exmo.com and Exmo.me share identical custodial wallets, with more than $19.5 million in direct transactions to sanctioned entities such as Grinex and Chatex.
  • Rapira moved over $72 million with Grinex and reportedly faced a Moscow raid, while Aifory Pro runs cash-to-crypto services and USDT-funded virtual cards with roughly $2 million linked to Abantether.