Binance Hands Over Client Info in Terrorism Financing Case

The world's largest crypto exchange, Binance, handed over client information to Russian authorities in a case against a Moscow-based IT specialist accused of terrorism financing. According to documents seen by Reuters, Binance provided details of cryptocurrency donations made to Ukrainian fundraising campaigns that were used as evidence against Yuri Belenkiy.

Belenkiy is currently awaiting trial in a Russian jail after being detained in September 2025 for sending over $700 to the Azov Brigade and the Azov Regiment, which Moscow designates as a terrorist organization. The donations were made between January 2023 and March 2024 in response to an online appeal by Arkady Babchenko, an exiled Kremlin critic who supports Ukraine.

Binance had previously stated it was fully exiting Russia in September 2023, citing that operating in the country was not compatible with its compliance strategy. However, Binance disputes claims that providing the client information may have been a breach of European Union data protection laws.