New Fintech Network Offers Alternative Trade Payments
International firms facing traditional banking restrictions can now settle invoices using a new blockchain-based service.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Financial Services
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Russian fintech firm A7 has expanded its international payment network into the Middle East, China, Africa, and Latin America, launching a service that settles cross-border invoices via USDT digital tokens. This infrastructure provides an alternative channel for companies navigating restrictions on traditional banking.
Why it matters
Western sanctions have severely restricted Russian access to conventional global banking, forcing businesses to adopt blockchain-based alternatives to maintain international trade. A7 is filling this void by facilitating settlements in regions where traditional financial channels are increasingly blocked.
A7 currently manages approximately 2,000 transactions daily for a client base of 15,000 corporations, with China accounting for 63 percent of all processed payments. The firm facilitated 10 trillion roubles in international volume during 2025, supported by a 0.3 percent commission fee on its new service.
The players
A7
A Russian fintech company that provides alternative international payment infrastructure for cross-border trade.
PSB bank
A Russian state-owned financial institution involved in the establishment and development of A7.
Denis Manturov
The First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia who chairs the A7 supervisory board.
The details
The A7 International service operates by processing USDT digital tokens on the TRON blockchain, which are subsequently converted into conventional bank transfers for the recipient. By leveraging local financial infrastructure rather than relying on global correspondent banking, the network bypasses typical gatekeepers to enable cross-border liquidity. The firm manages this flow across a network spanning more than 100 countries and has established physical offices in Nigeria and Zimbabwe to bolster regional operations.
Timeline
2024: A7 was established with the involvement of Russia's state-owned PSB bank.
2025: A7 opened regional offices in Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
mid-2026: China accounted for 63 percent of all A7 payments.
Oct. 13, 2026: The international USDT-to-bank payment service was introduced.
Oct. 15, 2026: The A7 supervisory board held its first meeting.
Market Landscape
A7 represents the shift toward non-traditional financial infrastructure as global trade participants move to circumvent the impact of Western economic sanctions. The model demonstrates how blockchain-based rails are increasingly replacing traditional correspondent banking corridors for high-risk regions.
Operators must monitor the emergence of these alternative payment rails, as they signal a broader trend of liquidity fragmentation in global trade. Businesses operating in high-sanction environments should evaluate the counterparty risks and long-term regulatory viability of using cryptocurrency-based settlement services.
The takeaway
The rise of A7 highlights how persistent trade restrictions are accelerating the adoption of blockchain-based fiat bridges. Operators should track the 0.3 percent commission benchmark and the expansion of the TRON-based network as a indicator of evolving cross-border payment efficiency in sanctioned markets.
What happens next
A7 has announced plans to expand its operational footprint into more than 20 additional countries throughout Africa and Latin America over the next two years.
Further reading
For broader trends in cross-border settlements and payment infrastructure, see Financial Services.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times of Oman.
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