Binance Accused of Handing Over User Data in High-Risk Terror Case

Binance has come under fire for allegedly handing over user data to Russian authorities in a high-risk terror case. According to court documents reviewed by Reuters, Binance shared transaction records and personally identifiable information of Yuri Belenkiy, an IT specialist detained in September 2025 for sending over $700 in cryptocurrencies to Ukrainian groups between 2023 and 2024.

The exchange reportedly handed over data including date of birth, home address, phone number, passport number, and copies of the accused's identity documents. Binance claims it complied with regulations by cooperating with legitimate requests from law enforcement agencies around the world, subject to applicable legal, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

However, this case raises questions about whether the data transfer could have violated European personal data protection regulations, given the accused's Bulgarian residence permit.