Binance Hands Over Donor Data to Russian Authorities Amid Cryptocurrency Crackdown

Russian authorities have been cracking down on cryptocurrency donations to Ukraine, and a recent case highlights concerns about Binance's handling of law enforcement requests. In October 2025, IT specialist Yuri Belenkiy was detained and charged with terrorism financing for sending over $700 in cryptocurrency to Ukrainian organizations.

According to documents reviewed by Reuters, Russian investigators asked Binance for Belenkiy's transaction history and received details identifying the user and his transfers. The data was incorporated into the case against Belenkiy, who is currently awaiting trial in a Russian jail.

Binance has maintained that it cooperates with lawful requests from law enforcement agencies worldwide but does not make or enforce laws. However, this case raises questions about the exchange's compliance strategy and its handling of user data.