Binance lifts ban on Syrian users in landmark policy shift
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Binance announced on Thursday that it fully restored access to its services for users in Syria. This marks a major policy reversal since the platform’s founding in 2017.
Previously, Binance—the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume—enforced a sweeping ban on Syrian users, not only based on geographic location but also on nationality.
This approach set the platform apart from many global financial services and crypto exchanges, which often allowed Syrians residing abroad to access their platforms—so long as they did not connect from within Syrian territory.
The decision to lift the ban comes amid shifting international financial policies toward Syria, including a loosening of sanctions and a gradual reintegration of select Syrian banks into the global financial system.
“Syrian nationals can now access Binance’s crypto services after the exchange removed the country from its list of prohibited jurisdictions,” Binance said in a statement. “Financial freedom should be for everyone.”
According to Binance, Syria ranked among the top ten countries in the world in crypto-related search activity in 2021, largely driven by a collapsing banking system and the reliance of millions of Syrians on remittances from abroad.
Founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who stepped down as CEO in 2023 following legal settlements in the United States, Binance remains the dominant player in global crypto trading.