Binance Pulls Out of Ontario Following Actions Against Other Crypto Exchanges

"Binance can no longer continue to service Ontario-based users," the exchange said Friday.

By Kevin Reynolds

Jun 27, 2021 at 3:49 p.m. UTC

Updated Sep 14, 2021 at 1:17 p.m. UTC

Christy Goldsmith Romero

Commissioner

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Explore the policy fallout from the 2022 market crash, the advance of CBDCs and more.

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Christy Goldsmith Romero

Commissioner

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Explore the policy fallout from the 2022 market crash, the advance of CBDCs and more.

Secure Your Seat

Kevin Reynolds

Christy Goldsmith Romero

Commissioner

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Explore the policy fallout from the 2022 market crash, the advance of CBDCs and more.

Secure Your Seat

Christy Goldsmith Romero

Commissioner

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Explore the policy fallout from the 2022 market crash, the advance of CBDCs and more.

Secure Your Seat

Binance is no longer open for business in Canada's most populous province, apparently choosing to close shop rather than meet the fate of other cryptocurrency exchanges that have had actions filed against them for allegedly failing to comply with Ontario securities laws.

On Friday, Binance updated its terms of use as follows:

CoinDesk - Unknown — "Binance can no longer continue to service Ontario-based users."

Binance's withdrawal follows publication of a Statement of Allegations last week against Bybit by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), which accused that crypto exchange of failing to comply with province regulations.
In the preceding 30 days, OSC had issued statements of allegations against two other crypto exchanges, Poloniex and KuCoin, claiming they, too, failed to comply with Ontario's regulations.
On March 29, the OSC warned crypto-asset trading platforms that to operate in the province they must contact OSC staff or face potential regulatory action. Platforms were given until April 19 to discuss how to bring their operations into compliance.
It wasn't clear whether Binance had reached out to the OSC. A company representative said Binance doesn't comment on specific matters regarding regulators.
"We take our legal obligations very seriously and engage with regulators and law enforcement in a collaborative fashion," he said.
The company has advised Ontario-based users to close out all active positions and gave them until the end of the year to withdraw their funds, according to the representative.
Regardless of the exact circumstances, the world where Binance is welcome to do business has grown a little smaller of late. On Saturday, a U.K. financial watchdog issued a warning that Binance isn't authorized to operate there; on Friday, Japan's securities regulator issued a similar statement.

UPDATE (June 27, 20:35 UTC): Adds Binance comment.

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