Binance Hands Over User Data to Russia, Used in Terrorism-Financing Case

Binance's decision to provide customer identification and cryptocurrency transaction data to Russian authorities has raised concerns about user privacy.

The information, which was handed over in 2025, was later used to pursue terrorism-financing charges against Yuri Belenkiy, a Russian IT specialist accused of sending more than $700 in crypto to organizations linked to Ukraine's military.

Belenkiy remains in detention awaiting trial and the incident has sparked debate about Binance's handling of user data in light of its earlier announcement to withdraw from the Russian market in 2023.