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Crypto exchange Binance says sterling withdrawals reactivated after outage

Published 30/06/2021, 09:20
Updated 01/07/2021, 06:05
© Reuters. Representations of cryptocurrencies Bitcoin, Ethereum, DogeCoin, Ripple, and Litecoin are seen in front of a displayed Binance logo in this illustration taken, June 28, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

(Corrects paragraph 11, deletes paragraph 12, to show notice was issued in June 2020)

By Tom Wilson

LONDON (Reuters) -Binance, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, said on Wednesday that sterling withdrawals from its platform had been reactivated, with users also able to buy digital coins with debit and credit cards.

The exchange's customers said on Tuesday they were unable to deposit or withdraw sterling from the platform, days after regulators in Britain cracked down on some of its activities in the country.

Binance users had said they were unable to withdraw or deposit sterling via the Faster Payments network - which enables mobile, internet and other payments between British bank accounts - or bank cards.

A Binance spokesperson said withdrawals via the Faster Payments network were reactivated on Tuesday, adding that bank card purchases of crypto were again possible.

Many users complained that Binance had given no information about transactions being blocked, beyond a "down for maintenance" message.

Binance had said the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) move would not impact services offered on its website, access to which by British residents was unaffected by the crackdown.

The crypto exchange displayed a notice on its Binance.co.uk website on Wednesday stating that Binance Markets Limited, a UK based company, was not permitted to undertake regulated activities in the country.

It tweeted the same statement from its Binance.UK twitter handle. However, Reuters could not find a notice on the Binance.com website or under the Binance twitter handle.

The FCA had told the company to post the notice on Binance.com, its mobile and desktop applications and social media channels by the close of business on Wednesday.

Both Binance and the FCA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The regulator had said in a notice https:// in June last year that the crypto trading platform "must cease marketing any reference to EddieUK/Binance/BinanceUK being an FCA regulated platform for buying and trading cryptocurrencies".

While crypto trading is not directly regulated in Britain, offering services such as trading in cryptocurrency derivatives does require authorisation.

© Reuters. Representations of cryptocurrencies Bitcoin, Ethereum, DogeCoin, Ripple, and Litecoin are seen in front of a displayed Binance logo in this illustration taken, June 28, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

Headed by Canadian Changpeng Zhao, Binance is coming under increasing scrutiny by regulators globally, many of which have voiced concern over the use of cryptocurrencies in general for money laundering and other crimes.

Binance offers services ranging from digital token trading to derivatives, as well as emerging technology such as tokenised versions of stocks. Its own cryptocurrency, Binance Coin, is the world's fourth-biggest with a market value of around $45 billion.

Latest comments

uk ban binance not big deal others country still can use
How to get money back from this crypto scam? Binance is a scam. No regulation. Rigged app.
who ever gave a thumb down are ignorant, I mean that FCA commanded Binance to notify it's Bitfans about ceased operation in the country , it never did. Now, how can i trust a company that lives it's clients in the dark.
liers as well!
get your money off of Binance, I did. they dont even notify when you cant withdraw.
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