Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, has clarified its stance on requests from the Israeli military to freeze crypto wallets associated with Palestinians.
Nils Anderson Röed, Binance’s global head of financial investigations, emphasized that the company does not simply comply with such requests without thorough investigation.
In a recent interview, he explained that Binance employs independent open-source intelligence research to verify claims made by authorities like the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
In late August, Binance CEO Richard Teng refuted allegations that the exchange had frozen all Palestinian wallets at the IDF’s request. He revealed that the IDF had asked for over 1,500 wallets to be frozen, but upon investigation, Binance found that only about 220 of those wallets, or 14%, were linked to illicit activities as defined by international law. Only these wallets were subsequently blocked from transactions.
Röed highlighted the importance of cross-checking information, noting that there can be discrepancies between what the IDF claims and what Binance’s investigations reveal.
For instance, while the IDF might associate a wallet with terrorism financing, Binance may have evidence suggesting it is linked to charitable activities. In such situations, the financial investigations team consults with legal experts and the relevant law enforcement bodies to ensure compliance with international law while protecting user rights. This approach underscores Binance’s commitment to a balanced and lawful response to requests from authorities.
