When governments block access to banks or ban crypto exchanges, people don’t just stop trading—they find another way. Sanctions evasion, the act of circumventing financial restrictions imposed by governments or international bodies like OFAC. Also known as financial circumvention, it’s not about crime—it’s often about survival. In places like Syria, Cuba, and Bangladesh, ordinary people use crypto to buy food, send money home, or pay for medicine because traditional systems cut them off. This isn’t theoretical. It’s happening right now, every day, through decentralized exchanges, P2P platforms, and VPNs.
It’s not just about hiding money. It’s about access. OFAC, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control that enforces economic sanctions lists countries, banks, and even crypto addresses. But blockchain doesn’t care about borders. When Binance blocks users in Bangladesh, they turn to P2P platforms like Paxful or LocalBitcoins. When Cuba tightens controls, traders use Libre Swap or IslandSwap—even if those platforms lack audits or teams—because there’s no other option. Crypto restrictions, government-imposed limits on buying, selling, or holding digital assets push users toward tools that don’t ask for ID, don’t track location, and don’t report to regulators.
And it’s not just individuals. Some projects are built specifically to operate in gray zones. The Libre blockchain, for example, supports only one trading pair—but it’s the only one available in certain regions. EzyStayz and Apple Network (ANK) may look like scams, but they’re often the only tokens circulating where mainstream coins are blocked. These aren’t always bad actors—they’re sometimes the only liquidity left. Meanwhile, countries like Georgia and Malta are creating clear crypto rules, while others double down on bans. The result? A world split between compliance and survival.
What you’ll find below are real stories from people who’ve navigated these systems. From how Bangladeshis use VPNs to trade on Binance, to why Syria’s lifted sanctions changed crypto flows overnight, to why IslandSwap has no reviews but still gets used. These aren’t speculative guides. They’re reports from the ground. If you’ve ever wondered how crypto survives under sanctions, this collection shows you exactly how.
Blockchain forensics lets authorities trace crypto transactions to catch sanctions evaders, ransomware gangs, and darknet dealers. Learn how it works, who uses it, and why trying to hide crypto funds is getting harder.
