Leaked Data Exposes Crypto Role in Russian Sanctions Evasion and Moldovan Election Interference

A significant data leak has exposed how Ilan Shor, a Moldovan fugitive and Putin ally, uses cryptocurrency to help Russia evade sanctions and interfere in Moldovan elections through his A7 group, which handles billions in stablecoin transactions to fund political operations. Separately, a large European crypto fraud network was dismantled, revealing how scammers used fake platforms and professional facades to steal over 100 million euros from more than 100 victims across multiple countries, highlighting ongoing risks in the crypto market due to weak regulation and trust mechanisms. In a major crypto and media development, Trump Media Group, Crypto.com, and Yorkville announced a merger to form Trump Media Group CRO Strategy Inc., backed by over $6 billion in funding, aiming to build a digital asset treasury and enhance the CRO token ecosystem. Meanwhile, Bo Hines, former executive director of President Trump's digital assets advisory council, has taken a leadership role at Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin USDT, which holds massive US debt, underscoring the deep ties between crypto firms and US government financial interests. These events collectively illustrate the complex and evolving relationship between cryptocurrency, political influence, fraud, and regulatory challenges in 2025.