- Binance is introducing monthly dormant account fees starting November 29 for inactive balances, charging either 0.025% or 10 USDC—whichever is higher.
- The move follows notifications urging users to withdraw funds across France, Spain, Italy, and Poland amid regulatory changes under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.
- Binance France’s local registration with the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) automatically lapsed on July 2 after the conclusion of France’s national registration regime.
Binance Introduces Dormant Fees for Inactive Balances
Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance is implementing a new recurring fee schedule for inactive accounts holding digital assets. Starting November 29, the platform will levy a monthly charge equivalent to 0.025% of an account’s remaining cryptocurrency balance or 10 USDC, whichever figure is higher. According to communications directed to impacted customers, the initial deduction will occur within three days of November 29, followed by a subsequent fee collection scheduled after December 24. For users whose accounts hold less than the baseline fee threshold, Binance will collect the entirety of the remaining balance.
The operational terms on Binance’s official website detail the grounds for these maintenance levies. The company states that it may charge a dormant account fee which may be to cover the cost of maintaining the Digital Assets with any Binance Affiliate or any third party, with such fee to be withdrawn directly from the dormant account on a monthly basis.
Regulatory Transitions Across European Jurisdictions
The fee implementation comes after a sequence of notices sent earlier in the year. In June, Binance first reached out to customers based in France, Spain, Italy, and Poland, requesting that they withdraw their assets. These territories represent member states where the exchange had maintained locally registered operations prior to the expiration of the transition period under the European Union’s comprehensive Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.
The regulatory landscape shifted notably during the summer. France’s financial regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), recorded Binance France’s registration—originally granted in May 2022—as having automatically lapsed on July 2. This administrative shift occurred precisely as France concluded its legacy national registration framework. Consequently, more than 50 virtual asset service providers operating without full MiCA authorizations, including the European division of Gemini, saw their domestic registrations dissolved.
Diverging Impact on European Users
While users in France, Spain, Italy, and Poland faced targeted withdrawal advisories, account holders in other EU member states have seen differing treatment. As reported by Portuguese publication Expresso, customers in jurisdictions such as Portugal—where Binance did not incorporate and operate a local registered entity—have not been subject to the same direct notices. Nonetheless, these retail investors continue to fall under overarching European Union regulatory limitations.
Why This Matters
The restructuring of Binance’s fee policies and the withdrawal notices across several major European economies illustrate the operational friction tied to the EU’s MiCA regulatory rollout. As regional transition periods wind down and member states retire domestic licensing systems, major crypto exchanges face stricter compliance mandates. Unregistered or non-compliant digital asset entities are being pushed out of local markets, leaving legacy accounts subject to custodial fees, maintenance expenses, or full account closures as platforms align with uniform cross-border rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new dormant account fees on Binance?
Beginning November 29, Binance is charging inactive accounts a recurring monthly fee of 0.025% of their remaining digital asset balance or 10 USDC, whichever amount is greater. If an account holds less than the minimum fee, the platform will collect the entire remaining balance.
Which countries received early withdrawal requests?
Binance initially contacted users located in France, Spain, Italy, and Poland in June to request asset withdrawals. These were markets where Binance operated locally registered business units prior to the conclusion of the MiCA transition period.
What happened to Binance’s regulatory standing in France?
The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) marked Binance France’s local registration as having lapsed on July 2. This coincided with the phase-out of France’s domestic crypto registration regime, which also removed dozens of other providers lacking MiCA licensure, including Gemini’s European unit.
