Russian international settlement platform A7, created with the involvement of PJSC Bank PSB, is launching A7 International on Oct. 13 to allow clients to settle foreign trade invoices in USDT while delivering funds to counterparties via standard SWIFT bank transfers.
USDT-to-SWIFT Settlement Structure
The new service caters primarily to foreign trade operators, though individual customers are also eligible to use it. Payments processed through the platform incur a fixed fee of 0.3%, allowing businesses to bridge crypto liquidity with conventional banking channels.
Key details of the new offering include:
- Fixed Fee Structure: All transactions carry a 0.3% fee regardless of volume.
- Dual Transfer Mechanism: Invoices are settled in USDT and converted into required fiat currencies for SWIFT delivery.
- Operational Scale: The platform services 15,000 clients and averages 2,000 transactions per day across more than 100 countries.
Chairman of PJSC Bank PSB Petr Fradkov and A7 Chief Executive Officer Ilan Shor will present the project during a live broadcast scheduled for Oct. 13 at 13:13.
Market Impact and Operational Scale
Founded in 2024, A7 has rapidly expanded its independent global payment infrastructure. In addition to cross-border transfers, the group's product suite includes digital financial assets and promissory notes. The launch comes amidst broader geopolitical shifts in international settlement mechanisms and strict regulatory developments, such as EU oversight of major crypto firms and UK sanctions targeting third-party crypto payment processors.
During 2025, approximately 19% of cross-border trade settlements conducted by Russian companies were processed through A7. Demonstrating its growing presence in corporate finance, A7 secured an AA(RU) credit rating with a Stable outlook from credit rating agency ACRA in October 2025.
Why It Matters
The introduction of a hybrid USDT-to-SWIFT settlement mechanism illustrates how financial institutions are integrating stablecoins into traditional banking rails to bypass trade friction. By offering a fixed 0.3% fee and SWIFT compatibility, A7 provides trade counterparties with direct access to fiat settlement without requiring recipient banks to accept digital assets directly. Observers should monitor whether international regulators and banking partners accept these hybrid flows as SWIFT networks face heightened scrutiny.
