Binance Shared Client Data With Russia Over Donations to Ukrainian Military

The cryptocurrency exchange Binance provided Russian law enforcement authorities with the data of a client who transferred funds to Ukrainian military fundraising campaigns.

Reuters reported this, citing documents from a Russian criminal investigation.

Russian investigators used this information in a case involving the financing of terrorism.

The case concerns 49-year-old Russian national Yuri Belenky, who was detained in September 2025. Russian investigators accused him of transferring more than $700 to the Azov Brigade and Regiment, as well as an organization affiliated with them that Moscow considers terrorist.

Investigators requested Belenky’s transaction history from Binance. The exchange provided information about cryptocurrency transfers to wallets that were used to raise funds for the needs of Ukrainian military personnel.

The data provided also contained the client’s personal information, including his date of birth, address, phone number, passport number, a copy of his Russian passport, and his Bulgarian residence permit.

Binance is a cryptocurrency company founded in 2017. The company has an important connection to Hong Kong: in 2017, Binance began operating in China.