Binance provided Russian authorities with details of cryptocurrency donations to Ukrainian fundraising campaigns in 2025, according to law enforcement documents.
Originally reported on Monday, the disclosure comes nearly three years after Binance announced it had fully exited Russia.
Russian authorities have prosecuted dozens of people for supporting causes that Moscow later classified as extremist or terrorist. Reuters could not determine the exact number of prosecutions and convictions tied to cryptocurrency donations.
In September 2025, Russian authorities detained IT specialist Yuri Belenkiy, a Russian citizen who holds a Bulgarian residency permit. Subsequently, Russia’s Investigative Committee accused the 49-year-old of sending more than USD$700 to Ukraine’s military and an associated organization.
The group has operated under names including the Azov Brigade and Azov Regiment. Moscow designates it as a terrorist organization.
The Binance records were included in evidence against Belenkiy, according to the law enforcement documents that Reuters reviewed for its investigation. Additionally, Belenkiy remains in a Russian jail while awaiting trial.
The case raises questions about what obligations Binance retained toward Russian authorities after leaving the country. Mike Bystrov, founder of crypto-regulation law firm Stellar Consulting, said Binance had no obligation to provide the information to Russian authorities.
He also argued that European Union privacy law may have prohibited Binance from sharing Belenkiy’s information with investigators after leaving Russia. However, Binance disputed that interpretation and defended its handling of lawful requests from authorities.
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Russia prosecutes crypto donors over Ukraine fundraising
The exchange said it cooperates with legitimate law-enforcement requests worldwide while following applicable legal, privacy and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, Binance said governments determine criminal charges and decide how authorities use information that companies provide during law-enforcement investigations.
The European Data Protection Board declined to assess Belenkiy’s case when Reuters asked the organization whether European privacy rules applied. It said national authorities within individual European states hold responsibility for enforcing the bloc’s data-protection rules.
Meanwhile, Reuters asked Bulgaria’s Commission for Personal Data Protection whether Binance had violated privacy law by providing information connected to Belenkiy. The commission did not respond.
The documents reviewed by Reuters covered only Belenkiy’s case. Consequently, Reuters could not establish whether Binance identified other cryptocurrency donors to Russian investigators.
Reuters also could not determine whether Russian authorities expanded the investigation to other people who donated through cryptocurrency exchanges. In addition, the documents did not establish whether Binance supplied similar information in other Russian cases.
Russian citizens face growing legal risks after donating to organizations that Moscow later places on extremist or terrorist lists. Several dozen donors have been prosecuted and convicted, according to rights activists who have tracked cases involving such contributions.
The First Corps Azov of Ukraine’s National Guard said it does not disclose donor identities. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s armed forces and presidential administration did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The Kremlin and Russia’s Investigative Committee also did not respond to requests for comment. Belenkiy’s lawyer did not answer Reuters questions about the allegations or Binance’s involvement.
Belenkiy holds a Russian passport but resides legally in Bulgaria under a residency permit. However, he remains in Russian custody as the terrorism-financing case moves toward trial.
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