Binance, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has experienced a significant decline in its Bitcoin balance in November. According to the latest proof of reserves report, the exchange’s Bitcoin holdings dropped by over 23,000 BTC, or roughly 4%. This decline coincided with Binance’s ongoing regulatory issues with U.S. authorities, which have put the platform under scrutiny.
Data from Binance’s website reveals that the total BTC balance of its customers decreased from 584,659 BTC at the beginning of November to 561,003 BTC by the start of December. This suggests a substantial withdrawal of assets from the platform during the regulatory challenges it faced. A closer analysis of Binance users’ behavior during this period shows a distinct trend. Larger holders of BTC were seen withdrawing their funds, while incoming funds primarily originated from retail users. This observation aligns with DeFillama’s data dashboard, which reported outflows exceeding $2 billion between Nov. 1 and Dec. 1.
The decline in Binance’s Bitcoin holdings occurred as the platform reached a settlement with the U.S. authorities, amounting to more than $4 billion. This settlement was a result of multiple violations of financial laws. Furthermore, the exchange’s founder, Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, stepped down as CEO after pleading guilty to charges related to money laundering. These regulatory challenges and leadership changes have undoubtedly impacted the platform’s reputation and stability.
In addition to the decline in Bitcoin holdings, Binance’s website also shows reductions in its balances of other major cryptocurrencies. Ethereum holdings dropped by approximately 0.67%, while XRP, Litecoin, USDC, and Binance’s native BNB token also recorded declines. These reductions can be attributed to users withdrawing their assets from the platform in response to the regulatory issues and the uncertainty surrounding Binance’s future.
Despite the overall decline in cryptocurrency balances, Binance saw a more than 5% surge in the balance of Tether’s USDT, reaching $15.2 billion. This increase coincided with over 860 million units of the stablecoin being sent to the platform by users during the same period. Analysts suggest that the upsurge in USDT’s balance on Binance is linked to the stablecoin’s growing market supply. As Binance maintains its position as the leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, crypto traders increasingly deposit their USDT on the platform for trading purposes.
Although Binance has faced significant challenges with regulatory authorities and leadership changes, the exchange’s assets remain fully backed, as indicated by data on Binance’s website. However, the decline in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency balances, along with the surge in Tether’s USDT balance, highlight the impact of these challenges on the platform. It remains to be seen how Binance will navigate these obstacles and regain the trust of its users and the broader cryptocurrency community.