Binance Hands Over Client Data in Russian Probe of Ukrainian Funding

Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2017, has been involved in a controversy surrounding its handling of client data. According to Reuters, citing documents from a Russian criminal investigation, Binance provided Russian law enforcement authorities with the data of a client who transferred funds to Ukrainian military fundraising campaigns.

The client in question is 49-year-old Yuri Belenky, who was detained in September 2025 for allegedly transferring more than $700 to the Azov Brigade and Regiment, as well as an organization affiliated with them that Moscow considers terrorist. Russian investigators requested Belenky's transaction history from Binance, which provided information about cryptocurrency transfers to wallets used to raise funds for Ukrainian military personnel.

The data shared by Binance included personal information such as Belenky's date of birth, address, phone number, passport number, a copy of his Russian passport, and his Bulgarian residence permit. This has raised concerns among some in the crypto community about the exchange's data protection policies and its willingness to cooperate with law enforcement authorities.