Crypto Exchanges
By Dan Saada
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What Binance Actually Said. A Binance spokesperson didn't comment on the specifics of Belenkiy's case.
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The Broader Data Privacy Problem. Crypto exchanges sit in an awkward spot. They collect enormous amounts of user data — KYC…
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Binance gave Russian law enforcement transaction records and identity documents belonging to Yuri Belenkiy, an IT specialist now facing terrorism financing charges in Russia.
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The data Binance handed over wasn't minor. According to law enforcement documents reviewed in the reporting, Russian investigators got Belenkiy's full transaction history tied to…
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A Binance spokesperson didn't comment on the specifics of Belenkiy's case. The company's position, per its spokesperson, is that Binance cooperates with legitimate information…
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Binance sold its Russian business to CommEX back in September 2023, framing it as a clean exit from a complicated market.
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It's worth pausing on the timeline. Belenkiy's alleged transfers happened between January 2023 and March 2024. Binance's exit from Russia closed in September 2023.
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Crypto exchanges sit in an awkward spot. They collect enormous amounts of user data — KYC verification requires it — and they operate across dozens of jurisdictions, each with…
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See also: Gen Z Traders on Binance Pick ETFs Over Stocks, Shun Leverage at 88%
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The Azov Regiment is designated as a terrorist organization under Russian law. It is not designated as such by the United States, the European Union, or most Western governments,…
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Binance's stated policy — comply with lawful requests — doesn't resolve that. Lawful where? Per whose law?
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And Belenkiy is still waiting. No trial date, no resolution. The information Binance provided is sitting inside a Russian criminal case, and it's unclear how heavily it will…
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Broader industry concerns aren't going away either. Crypto platforms have spent years arguing that blockchain transparency makes them more accountable than traditional finance.
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More context: Solana Futures Volume Doubles Across 5 Exchanges as $6M in Positions Get Wiped
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The Belenkiy case probably won't be the last time a crypto exchange finds itself caught between competing legal systems, each claiming legitimacy, each demanding compliance.
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