The UK has sanctioned the Russia-linked A7 crypto payments network, effectively treating it like a bank. Main impact: UK firms and individuals are now banned from interacting with A7, and any related assets must be frozen. Why it matters: authorities say A7 has processed tens of billions in Russia-related transactions, making it a potential sanctions-evasion channel. Outlook: the key question is enforcement—especially whether global exchanges also cut ties or face pressure to comply with similar restrictions in other jurisdictions.