Binance Hands Over Client Data in Terrorism Financing Case Against Russian User
Binance, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has been involved in a sensitive case involving terrorism financing in Russia. According to Reuters, Russian authorities requested and received transaction records and personal information belonging to a customer accused of sending over $700 in crypto to Ukrainian fundraising campaigns between January 2023 and March 2024.
The individual in question is IT specialist Yuri Belenkiy, who was detained in September 2025. The data supplied by Binance included his transaction history, date of birth, address, phone number, passport number, Russian passport, and Bulgarian residency permit.
Binance had announced its exit from Russia in September 2023, selling its local business to CommEX. However, the exchange still cooperates with lawful information requests from law enforcement globally, subject to applicable legal, privacy, and regulatory requirements.