Binance reportedly supplied Russian authorities with transaction information and private info belonging to a buyer accused of financing terrorism by way of cryptocurrency donations to Ukrainian fundraising campaigns.
Russian investigators used info provided by Binance as proof in opposition to IT specialist Yuri Belenkiy, who was detained in September 2025 and is awaiting trial in Russia, in response to legislation enforcement paperwork reviewed by Reuters.
Russia’s Investigative Committee alleged Belenkiy despatched greater than $700 in crypto between January 2023 and March 2024 to the Ukrainian army and a banned group that Reuters recognized because the group recognized at completely different instances because the Azov Brigade and the Azov Regiment.
Reuters’ evaluation discovered that Russian authorities requested Binance for Belenkiy’s transaction historical past and obtained info linking him to the transfers, alongside together with his date of delivery, tackle, cellphone quantity and passport quantity. The response additionally included copies of his Russian passport and Bulgarian residency allow.
Binance introduced a full exit from Russia in September 2023, promoting its native enterprise to CommEX.
A Binance spokesperson declined to touch upon particular confidential legislation enforcement requests or particular person instances.
“Binance doesn’t make or implement the legal guidelines of any jurisdiction, decide fees, or resolve how any authorities makes use of info in authorized proceedings. Like different world monetary establishments, we cooperate with lawful info requests from legislation enforcement globally, topic to relevant authorized, privateness and regulatory necessities,” the spokesperson informed Cointelegraph.
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