Binance Rejects Majority of Israeli Wallet Freeze Requests: Here’s Why

Binance Rejects- Understanding Binance’s Wallet Freezing Policy: Transparency and Integrity

Binance Rejects– In a recent conversation with Decrypt, Nils Anderson Röed, Binance’s global head of financial investigations, clarified the company’s stance on requests from the Israeli military to freeze crypto wallets associated with Palestinians. Röed emphasized that Binance does not simply comply with such requests without thorough evaluation.

Independent Research and Cross-Verification

Röed stated, We don’t just rely on one single source, or one single tool, highlighting the rigorous process his team employs to handle incoming requests from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This approach includes conducting independent open-source intelligence research alongside governmental claims to ensure accuracy. Röed explained that there may be instances where the IDF links a crypto wallet to terrorism financing, while Binance’s internal team may find credible information suggesting a connection to a charity instead.

In light of these discrepancies, the financial investigations team consults with Binance’s legal counsel and engages with the relevant law enforcement agencies to determine compliant actions that respect user rights. This meticulous process has contributed to Binance’s decision to reject 86% of the wallet seizure requests it recently received from Israel.

Addressing Allegations and Clarifying Actions

In late August, Binance CEO Richard Teng firmly denied allegations that the exchange had frozen the wallets of all Palestinian customers at the behest of the IDF. In a follow-up interview, Teng clarified that the IDF requested the freezing of over 1,500 wallets belonging to Palestinians. However, upon investigation, Binance found that only around 220 wallets (approximately 14%) showed legitimate signs of being involved in illicit transactions as defined by international law. Only these specific wallets were ultimately blocked from transactions on the platform.

Commitment to Enhanced Investigations

Röed, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with prior experience investigating dark web crimes for Europol and the Dutch government, mentioned that Binance has committed additional resources to ensure its investigations are thorough, especially in sensitive regions like the Middle East. He remarked, We’re doing a lot of additional checks, especially with these kinds of very sensitive issues, underscoring the company’s dedication to maintaining a responsible and lawful approach to financial investigations.

As Binance continues to navigate the complexities of compliance and user rights, its commitment to independent verification and legal consultation positions the exchange as a cautious player in the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency regulation.