Russian Billionaires Move Tens of Billions Abroad as 7.5 Trillion Rubles Flow Through A7
Updated
Updated · Meduza · Jul 16
Russian Billionaires Move Tens of Billions Abroad as 7.5 Trillion Rubles Flow Through A7
3 articles · Updated · Meduza · Jul 16
Summary
Tens of billions of dollars have been moved out of Russia this year by some of the country’s richest businessmen, according to Bloomberg, with money shifting into cryptocurrency, gold and foreign real estate.
Asset-seizure fears are driving the outflows, alongside worries about Russia’s economy, federal budget strain and rising pressure from the state to help finance the war in Ukraine.
A March closed-door meeting with Vladimir Putin sharpened those concerns: The Bell reported top businessmen were asked to contribute, though the Kremlin said they volunteered on their own.
Western sanctions complicate efforts to move wealth beyond the Kremlin’s reach, pushing some flows into opaque channels such as A7A5, a ruble-pegged cryptocurrency used by A7.
A7 handled 7.5 trillion rubles—about $96 billion—in transactions in the first half of 2025, underscoring the scale of cross-border payment routes available despite sanctions.
As billionaires flee and Crimea collapses, is Putin’s carefully crafted image of power finally shattering?
With their Gulf safe havens now unstable, where can Russia’s fleeing billionaires hide their fortunes?
Can Russia's military survive Ukraine's devastating new generation of AI-powered drones?
Billions Flee Russia: 2026’s Record Capital Flight, Elite Crackdown, and Global Repercussions
Overview
In 2026, Russia faces an unprecedented outflow of capital as billions of dollars are moved abroad by its wealthiest individuals, despite repeated warnings from the Central Bank about the risks of foreign holdings. This strong demand to invest outside Russia continues even as the state escalates asset seizures, with the value of assets transferred into state ownership rising sharply from $3.89 billion in 2024 to $11.03 billion in 2025. Notably, these figures only reflect cases where 'damage to the state' was cited, suggesting the true scale of nationalization may be even greater.