A 17-year-old British student, Alexander Browder, has been sanctioned by Russia for exposing a cryptocurrency network he claims Moscow used to avoid U.S. sanctions. Son of Bill Browder, a former financier turned anti-corruption activist, Alexander released a report in March detailing how Russia allegedly developed a stablecoin to facilitate transactions circumvented by international sanctions.
In an interview with CBS News, Alexander stated, “My work is following the money.” He regards the sanctions against him as confirmation of the discomfort his findings have caused the Russian government.
On June 2, Russia’s Foreign Ministry included Alexander in its list of British nationals barred from entry, accusing him of spreading disinformation. Despite this, Alexander remains undeterred. He told CBS News, “Russia can add my name to whatever list it wants, it won’t change the facts, and it won’t change my world.”
Alexander’s report points to a stablecoin named A7A5, created in 2025, which reportedly processed $100 billion in transactions last year, mainly through exchanges in Kyrgyzstan.
Inspired by his family’s history of fighting Russian corruption, Alexander continues the legacy of his father, Bill Browder, who faced sanctions from Russia in 2005 after documenting a $230 million tax fraud scandal. Bill Browder’s activism deepened following the death of his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009, whom he vowed to seek justice for.
Alexander acknowledged the evolution of investigative methods, realizing that younger generations must adapt to technological advances. “Cryptocurrency is a new pathway for the Russians,” he noted, emphasizing the crime’s impact, “People have been killed around me, and so I always wanted to bring justice.”
Aware of the risks involved, Alexander has resolved not to be intimidated by threats. He openly stated, “If you live in fear, it will only make it worse. Millions of people are being killed in Ukraine and elsewhere by the Russians. If I can play my part in trying to stop that, then I’ll be happy.”