Binance Data Surfaces in Russian Terrorism Case – Years After Exit

This is one of those cases that really makes you think twice. Imagine moving out of a city, clearing out your apartment, officially deregistering—and yet, years later, the new tenant still has access to your old desk. That’s essentially what happened to Yuri Belenkiy, an IT specialist. In 2023, Binance officially exited Russia, yet the transaction histories of former users—including Belenkiy’s—apparently remained accessible. And then, without warning, they ended up in a Russian terrorism case.
A Bitter Aftertaste
Belenkiy, a seasoned programmer who worked in tech back in the 90s, was arrested in September 2025. The charges? Allegedly collecting funds for a group classified as a terrorist organization. The evidence? According to Russian investigators, it came from Binance—a platform that had long since withdrawn from Russia. This raises urgent questions: How can data that a company no longer controls end up in a criminal proceeding? And why didn’t Binance ensure that this information was rendered inaccessible?
The Long Shadow of Crypto Data
It’s no secret that crypto exchanges store user data for years. These records are often legally required—especially in countries with strict regulations like Russia. But here’s the catch: even after an official exit, the data appears to remain accessible. Reuters cites an insider who claims Binance continued operating servers in Russia for months after pulling out of the market, before finally migrating or handing over the data to authorities.
Sounds like an organizational nightmare—or worse, a convenient data goldmine for authoritarian regimes



. Privacy advocate Sarah Puppe puts it bluntly: “When companies hoard user data for years despite no longer operating in a region, that’s not data protection—it’s an open door for political arbitrariness.”
Binance’s Silence and the Fallout
So far, Binance has not issued a public statement. A spokesperson told Reuters cautiously that the company adheres to “strict privacy policies” and acts “in compliance with local laws.” Sounds like standard corporate speak—but is it enough? Notably, the spokesperson admitted that in some countries, there are “technical challenges” in fully erasing user data.
This shines a spotlight on the global influence of crypto platforms. Binance isn’t just any startup—it’s one of the biggest players in the industry, with millions of users worldwide. And that’s what makes this case so explosive: if even a giant like Binance handles data this carelessly, what does that say about the rest of the sector?
A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Users?
For people living under authoritarian regimes, the situation is especially dangerous. Crypto transactions may offer anonymity—but if you use a centralized exchange like Binance, you leave digital footprints that authorities can easily trace. Experts recommend alternatives: decentralized exchanges (DEXs), privacy coins like Monero, or—going even further—technologies that better protect anonymity.
Yet even that isn’t a foolproof solution. At its core, this case reveals a hard truth: data is power. And whoever controls—or fails to control—that data helps decide who gets targeted next. It’s something we should all be thinking about.