The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange handed over to Russia the data of a client who donated to Azov — Reuters
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, handed over to Russian authorities data on one of its clients who had transferred funds to the Ukrainian military. The client in question is Yuri Belyenko, a Russian citizen accused in Russia of financing “terrorism.”
According to reports, Russian authorities used the exchange’s data in a case against the IT specialist. Belyenky transferred more than $700 to the Ukrainian military.
Belenky worked in the IT sector. Russian law enforcement detained him in September 2025, and by October, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported that the man had transferred more than $700 to Ukrainian soldiers from the “Azov” unit.
According to Reuters, the Russian authorities obtained the information about this transfer specifically from Binance. The transfer of information drew attention because the crypto exchange had previously announced that it would completely cease operations in Russia back in 2023.
Financial companies typically provide information about their clients in response to lawful requests from law enforcement agencies in the countries where they operate. At the same time, attorney Mike Bystrov told Reuters that after Binance exited the Russian market, the company was not obligated to provide such information to Moscow. According to him, European Union data protection laws could, on the contrary, restrict such a transfer.
Binance itself disagreed with this assessment. “Binance does not establish or ensure compliance with the laws of any jurisdiction, does not determine charges, and does not decide how any government uses information in legal proceedings,” a company spokesperson said.
The crypto exchange representative emphasized that Binance, like other international financial institutions, cooperates with law enforcement agencies and responds to lawful requests for information in accordance with applicable legal, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
According to the spokesperson, decisions on how to further use the data received from the company are made directly by government agencies.
Human rights activists who monitor such cases claim that Belyenko’s case is not an isolated one. In recent years, Russians have used cryptocurrency services to make donations to organizations and initiatives that Moscow subsequently declared “extremist” or “terrorist.”
According to human rights activists, several dozen people who made such donations have been prosecuted and convicted in Russia. The exact number of such cases remains unknown.
This was reported by Reuters.
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