Bitcoin and Shiba Inu Trading May Come to a Halt on BinanceUS for Indefinite Period

The recent motion from the SEC to freeze BinanceUS assets may cause the exchange to halt trading for Bitcoin, Shiba Inu, and other assets indefinitely.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a motion to temporarily freeze the assets of BinanceUS, the American affiliate of the world’s largest exchange, Binance. If approved by the court, this motion may lead to a suspension of trading activities involving Bitcoin (BTC), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and other assets.

The motion comes after the SEC charged Binance and its CEO, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, with violations of security laws, including an allegation that the company misrepresented trading regulations on BinanceUS. 

The temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction motion aim to prohibit BinanceUS from transferring funds or assets to Binance, CZ, or any affiliated entity. The SEC argues that such transfers would pose an imminent threat of irreversible damage to investors.

BinanceUS Responds

BinanceUS responded to the motion on Twitter, emphasizing that its customers’ assets remain safe, and the platform continues to operate without any significant hiccups. The exchange assured users that deposit and withdrawal functions are unaffected – a claim several users have attested to.

This afternoon, the SEC filed a motion seeking a TRO and preliminary injunction against https://t.co/AZwoBOgsqS attempting to, amongst other things, freeze https://t.co/AZwoBOgsqS corporate assets. User assets remain safe and secure and the platform continues to be fully…

— Binance.US ?? (@BinanceUS) June 6, 2023

The exchange expressed its disappointment regarding the SEC’s filing, deeming it unnecessary. The company believes the agency’s motives may focus on gaining a strategic advantage in litigation rather than safeguarding customer assets. 

BinanceUS further highlighted that the US regulator had not pointed out any concerns regarding the safety of customer funds during their communication with the agency over the years. Recall that Gemini, another American exchange previously sued by the SEC, made similar remarks about the watchdog in January.

Binance US said it engaged in extensive and continuous dialogue with the SEC in recent days, taking proactive steps to address concerns. However, the motion has come up despite these efforts. The exchange says it plans to defend itself in court.

Implications for Shiba Inu & Other Assets

The TRO and preliminary injunction motion could have significant implications for BinanceUS users trading BTC, Shiba Inu, and other assets. If granted, the motion could result in an indefinite suspension of trading operations on the platform, thereby preventing users from accessing their funds.

This could cause significant losses for users holding volatile crypto assets subject to price fluctuations. Industry leaders have emphasized that this move only harms the same investors the SEC wants to protect. The entire crypto community has criticized the motion.

However, CZ clarified that if the motion is granted, it would only affect BinanceUS, which caters to US citizens. He assured that customer assets on the global Binance platform would remain safe regardless of the outcome of the motion.