Crypto Cards Bypass Sanctions to Access American AI Models
Crypto-enabled credit and debit cards allow users in sanctioned nations to bypass restrictions and access American AI models like ChatGPT and Claude.
An investigation has revealed that crypto-enabled credit and debit cards are being used to circumvent international sanctions and corporate restrictions. Users in China, Russia, and Iran are utilizing these cards to access American AI models, including ChatGPT and Claude, by linking cryptocurrency wallets to the Visa Inc. and Mastercard networks, often via stablecoins.
Reports from Crystal Blockchain B.V. indicate that nearly 70% of crypto-card providers maintain weak or non-existent know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. This deficiency enables a grey token market where users employ virtual private networks and fake identities to purchase AI subscriptions. While issuers such as Rain, Reap, and Wirex claim strict compliance, the lack of verification persists across the industry.
The scale of this circumvention is highlighted by a recent accusation from Anthropic. The AI laboratory alleged that Alibaba Group used 5,000 accounts, some funded through virtual cards, to illicitly access the Claude model 151 million times between May and July 2026 for the purpose of model distillation.
