Binance Faces Scrutiny After Russia Obtained Data on Ukrainian Donor
- Binance reportedly shared customer records with Russian authorities that were later used in the prosecution of a Russian IT specialist accused of funding terrorism through donations to Ukrainian groups, Reuters reported.
- Law enforcement documents cited by Reuters identified Yuri Belenkiy as the sender of more than $700 in transfers. Binance allegedly provided authorities with his date of birth, address, phone number and passport information, along with copies of his Russian passport and Bulgarian residency permit.
- Belenkiy was detained by Russian authorities in September 2025 and remains in custody while awaiting trial.
- Russia’s Investigative Committee alleges that Belenkiy made the payments between January 2023 and March 2024 after an appeal by exiled Kremlin critic Arkady Babchenko. Authorities claim the money was intended for the Ukrainian military and an organization linked to the Azov Brigade, which Russia considers a terrorist group.
- Investigators reportedly received two replies from a Binance-associated email address after seeking Belenkiy’s transaction history. Binance’s website had previously directed law enforcement agencies in Russia and Belarus to submit requests through that address.
- Binance’s current law-enforcement guidelines state that customer information can be released when authorities provide valid legal documentation, such as a court order, police order or warrant, in connection with a criminal investigation.
- The reported disclosure occurred after Binance sold its Russian operations to CommEX in September 2023. The exchange said leaving the market was part of its effort to improve compliance and that it would have no revenue-sharing arrangement or option to reacquire the business.
- Binance told Reuters that it complies with lawful law-enforcement requests while taking applicable legal, privacy and regulatory requirements into account. The company declined to address Belenkiy’s case specifically or comment on whether the disclosure may have breached European data-protection rules.
- CoinDesk contacted Binance for comment but had not received a response when the report was published.
- The records were reportedly obtained by The First Department, a group that assists defendants in Russian political cases, from one of Belenkiy’s relatives.
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