Binance CEO Teng Denies Palestinian Asset Freeze Claims, Calls Them ‘FUD’
Recently, claims have surfaced that Binance froze the assets of Palestinian users following a request from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These allegations are based on a document purportedly from the Israeli government, citing an administrative seizure order under the Law on Combating Terrorism. The document suggests that the seized funds were linked to organizations labeled as terrorist groups, with authorization from Israel’s Minister of Defense.
Binance CEO Richard Teng has refuted allegations that the crypto exchange froze all assets belonging to Palestinian users at the request of the Israeli armed forces. These claims were shared on social media platform X by Ray Youssef, the founder and CEO of the peer-to-peer bitcoin trading platform NoOnes.
Teng labeled the allegations as “FUD” (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) in a post on X, clarifying that only a limited number of user accounts, linked to illicit funds, were blocked. He emphasized that Binance complies with internationally accepted anti-money laundering regulations, similar to other financial institutions.
As governments increasingly scrutinize digital assets for their potential use in financing activities deemed threats to national security, exchanges like Binance find themselves navigating a complex regulatory landscape. These platforms face growing pressure to implement stringent anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures while also addressing user privacy concerns.
Teng’s response appears to position Binance’s actions as part of routine compliance, rather than targeted measures, to reassure users and mitigate potential reputational damage. His statement also seeks to counter narratives suggesting that Binance may be unfairly targeting Palestinian users, emphasizing that the exchange’s compliance efforts are applied uniformly across all jurisdictions.
Israel’s move to freeze these accounts is part of a broader initiative to disrupt financial networks allegedly supporting terrorism. The government is now advocating for the permanent confiscation of the assets in these frozen accounts, arguing that, given the nature of the accusations, the funds should be seized entirely rather than just frozen.
Although the document does not explicitly name Binance, the crypto community has reacted strongly, especially given the platform’s history of compliance with Israeli law enforcement. Ray Youssef claimed that there was indeed a freeze and shared a screen-recorded video purportedly showing a message from Binance’s customer service confirming that the account freeze was ordered by Israeli authorities.
This incident has intensified calls for Binance to clarify its stance amidst growing distrust. Despite Binance’s compliance efforts, the current allegations could push users towards decentralized platforms, highlighting the crypto principle: “Not your keys, not your coins.”
