Core Insights - The leak of internal files from companies linked to fugitive Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor reveals a crypto-powered geopolitical operation involving Russia and its allies, utilizing cryptocurrency to evade sanctions and influence Moldovan elections [1][2] Group 1: Financial Operations - A7, a network of companies allegedly controlled by Shor, is connected to at least $8 billion in stablecoin transactions over the past 18 months, indicating that cryptocurrency is a key tool for Russia's financial strategies [2] - A7 specializes in "sanctions evasion as a service," facilitating transactions for Russian entities blocked from traditional financial systems, with nearly half of A7 owned by Russia's state-owned Promsvyazbank, which is already under sanctions [3] - A7 has launched its own stablecoin, A7A5, pegged to the Russian ruble, to reduce reliance on U.S.-based stablecoins like Tether, with internal communications discussing multi-million-dollar USDT transfers to build liquidity for A7A5 [4] Group 2: Political Influence - The funds linked to A7 are associated with political infrastructure in Moldova, including a smartphone app named Taito that pays local activists and a "Callcenter" system for conducting illicit polling [5] - A Telegram bot is identified for distributing payments after basic identity checks, indicating a structured approach to influence public opinion during elections [5]