The recent tweet from GSM claims that a large number of Russian-speaking crypto exchange members’ chat has been leaked. The leak appears to have data like name, user id, phone, etc. The database format: f_name, I_name, User_ID, and phone. These Russians have been utilizing cryptocurrency as a last resort at the same time as Ukraine has raised over $100 million in cryptocurrency donations to fund army equipment and supplies, humanitarian relief, evacuation, and other necessities for people in need throughout the war.
Many Russians have denounced the war in Ukraine, which has resulted in the devastation of entire cities and thousands of human deaths. Some of those Russians chose to flee the country rather than face retaliation for their anti-war attitude. Although recent polls show that a sizable portion of the population supports the invasion, Russia soon approved a law effectively criminalizing any criticism of the military forces, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The regional chief of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, met with Russia’s financial intelligence agency in Moscow in April 2021. According to a text exchanged by a company official to a business associate, the Russians wanted Binance to agree to send over client data, including names and addresses, to assist them to fight crime.
According to statistics from a leading industry research organization, Binance’s trading volumes in Russia have increased dramatically since the war began, as Russians have turned to crypto to shield their assets from Western sanctions and a depreciating rouble. Internal communications from a Russian-language ransomware gang were released online a few months ago, exposing sensitive details about the group just days after the hackers threatened to strike anyone who threatened Moscow with cyberattacks.
