Binance Data Flows into Russian Terrorism Case – Even Years After Exit

This is one of those cases that really makes you think twice. Imagine moving out of a city, emptying your apartment, officially deregistering your address – and years later, the new tenant still has access to your old desk. That’s exactly how the case of IT specialist Yuri Belenkiy feels. Back in 2023, Binance officially withdrew from the Russian market, yet the transaction histories of former users—including Belenkiy’s—apparently remained accessible. And now, those very records have surfaced in a Russian terrorism trial.
A Case with a Bitter Aftertaste
Belenkiy, an experienced programmer who worked in the tech industry as early as the 1990s, was arrested in September 2025. The charges? He is accused of allegedly collecting funds for a group classified as a terrorist organization. The evidence? According to Russian investigators, it came straight from Binance—a platform that had long since exited the Russian market. This raises serious questions: How can data controlled by a company no longer operating in a country suddenly end up in a criminal case? And why didn’t Binance ensure that this information became inaccessible?
The Long Shadow of Crypto Data
That crypto exchanges store user data for years is no secret. Such records are often legally required—especially in countries with strict regulations like Russia. But here’s where it gets risky: Even after an official withdrawal, the data appears to remain available. Reuters cites an insider claiming that Binance continued operating servers in Russia for months after its market exit, only migrating or handing over the data later.
This sounds like an organizational nightmar



e—or worse: a treasure trove of data for authoritarian regimes. Privacy advocate Sarah Puppe puts it bluntly: “If companies hoard user data for years despite no longer being active there, that’s not data protection—it’s a gateway for political arbitrariness.”
Binance’s Silence and the Consequences
So far, Binance has not issued a public statement. A spokesperson told Reuters only vaguely that they adhere to “strict data protection guidelines” and operate “in accordance with local laws.” Sounds like corporate boilerplate—but is that enough? After all, the spokesperson admitted that in some countries there are “technical challenges” in completely deleting data.
This highlights the global influence of crypto platforms. Binance isn’t just another startup—it’s one of the biggest players in the industry, with millions of users worldwide. And that’s exactly what makes this case so explosive: If even a giant like Binance handles this so carelessly, what does that mean for everyone else?
A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Users?
For people in authoritarian regimes, the situation is particularly dangerous. While crypto transactions may offer anonymity, using a centralized exchange like Binance leaves digital footprints that authorities can easily track. Experts therefore recommend alternatives: decentralized exchanges (DEXs), privacy coins like Monero, or even more radical solutions that better protect anonymity.
But even that isn’t a cure-all. At the end of the day, this case makes one thing clear: data is power. And whoever controls—or doesn’t control—it decides who gets persecuted in the future. That’s something we should all reflect on.