Binance Provided Customer Data to Russian Authorities, Later Used in Terror Financing Case

Odaily News Cryptocurrency exchange Binance provided Russian authorities with customer transaction records and identity information, which were subsequently used in a terror financing case against IT specialist Yuri Belenkiy. Yuri Belenkiy was detained in September 2025 and is currently awaiting trial in Russia.



The Russian Investigative Committee accused Yuri Belenkiy of donating more than $700 in cryptocurrency to the Ukrainian military and banned organizations between January 2023 and March 2024. The data obtained by Russian authorities included his transaction history, date of birth, address, phone number, Russian passport, and Bulgarian residence permit.



Binance announced its full exit from Russia in September 2023, selling its local business to CommEX. Binance stated that the company is not responsible for formulating or enforcing laws in any jurisdiction, nor does it determine the content of charges or how governments use information in legal proceedings. The company cooperates with legitimate information requests from global law enforcement agencies, subject to applicable laws, privacy, and regulatory requirements. (Cointelegraph)