Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has instructed certain customers in European countries to withdraw their digital assets before their accounts are permanently closed on December 31, 2026. The development affects selected users who have received notifications from the platform and must take action before the announced deadline.
According to a report published by CoinDesk on November 7, 2026, Binance has already restricted new cryptocurrency deposits for the affected customers. However, users can still withdraw their existing cryptocurrency holdings and fiat currency balances.
The exchange has provided customers with an opportunity to move their funds before the account closure process takes effect. Those affected are being advised to review their account notifications and make the necessary arrangements ahead of the deadline.
The December 31 deadline is particularly important because customers who fail to withdraw their assets in time could face complications accessing their funds once their accounts are closed. Users should therefore avoid waiting until the final days to transfer their cryptocurrency or cash balances.
The restrictions also mean that affected customers can no longer add new cryptocurrency deposits to their Binance accounts. However, the continued availability of withdrawals provides an opportunity to transfer existing holdings to another eligible exchange or a compatible personal cryptocurrency wallet.
According to customer emails shared with CoinDesk, Binance will also introduce monthly charges on cryptocurrency balances left in affected accounts starting November 29, 2026. The reported fee is 0.025 percent of the remaining cryptocurrency balance or 10 USDC, whichever amount is higher.
The first deduction is expected within three days of November 29, while another charge is scheduled after December 24. The reported notices also indicate that fees will be deducted from USDC holdings first, followed by other available cryptocurrencies if necessary.
Customers with balances smaller than the applicable minimum fee could potentially lose their entire remaining holdings. However, these fee details are based on customer-shared notifications and should be checked against the individual notice received from Binance.
The account restrictions are linked to the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. The regulation establishes licensing and authorisation requirements for cryptocurrency service providers operating across European Union member states.
Binance has reportedly been restricting certain services for affected customers following the end of the regulatory transition period. The exchange has not secured the required MiCA authorisation, and the issue has affected its ability to continue providing services to certain customers under the previous arrangements.
Users in France, Spain, Italy and Poland have reported receiving account closure notifications. However, the restrictions should not be interpreted as applying automatically to every Binance customer across Europe.
A Binance spokesperson told CoinDesk that the affected accounts would close from December 31, describing the process as a carefully managed transition. The company also maintained that customers’ assets remain accessible during the withdrawal period and that there is no sudden freeze.
The exchange has also reiterated its commitment to the European market and indicated that it is continuing to pursue the necessary regulatory authorisation.
For now, affected customers are being encouraged to check their emails and official Binance account notifications carefully. They should verify withdrawal instructions through the platform’s official channels and complete any necessary transfers before the relevant deadlines.
The development highlights how changing cryptocurrency regulations can affect access to digital asset trading platforms in different countries. It also underlines the importance of keeping track of regulatory announcements, account restrictions and withdrawal deadlines when using international cryptocurrency exchanges.
The latest restrictions concern selected European accounts and do not mean that Binance is shutting down its global operations or closing all customer accounts worldwide.