AMLBinance froze my crypto: why and what to do
Updated: 25 August 2026 · sources: OFAC, Chainalysis, TRM, Tether/Circle blacklists
Binance blocked your deposit or put it “under review”? Here’s why it happens on the world’s largest exchange — and what to do, step by step.
Binance runs one of the strictest compliance stacks in crypto. Its risk engine scores every incoming deposit and it cooperates closely with law enforcement, so even an indirect link to sanctions, a mixer or stolen funds can trigger a hold and a source-of-funds request — frequently after the funds have already landed.
Why Binance freezes funds
- OFAC sanctions — the sender is on the SDN list. This is almost always a block.
- A link to a mixer (Tornado Cash and others), a darknet market or stolen funds.
- Issuer freeze — Tether/Circle blacklisted the token address itself.
- Retroactive & indirect — even a few hops from a risky address can trigger a review.
What to do if Binance already froze your funds
- Don’t panic and don’t create new deposits to the same account.
- Collect proof of the source of funds: where the crypto came from, deal screenshots, the sender’s address.
- Generate an AML report for the address — it shows whether the source is clean and can be attached to your appeal.
- Open a support request and explain the origin of the funds clearly.
How to avoid it next time
Screen the counterparty’s wallet before the deal — in seconds. If the address is risky, just ask for another wallet. That’s cheaper and faster than weeks of unblocking.
FAQ
Does Binance freeze for indirect links too?
Yes. Binance’s screening is among the strictest — even a few hops from a sanctioned or mixer address can trigger a review. That’s why checking the sender before you accept matters.
How do I check a counterparty before the deal?
Paste their wallet address into the form below — you get a verdict in seconds: accept the transfer, ask for another wallet, or decline.
Already frozen? We can build the appeal.
Our appeal dossier traces the source of funds, maps exposure, pinpoints the transaction that triggered the block, and includes a letter compliance officers actually read. Case review is free — see how the dossier works →