Only thing I could think of is that it allows the accumulating of enough wealth, while dodging the obvious hardships that comes with trying to run gold or other shit, to allow sanctioned countries to purchase not just needed supplies but also the infrastructure and defenses to move those supplies. As in building or purchasing your own barges and navy to move goods to and from your country.

Obviously that's both far out in terms of planning, implementation, and reality. But it's a possibility at least.