Binance converts its $1 billion safety net into 15,000 BTC
The crypto exchange finalized a 30-day plan to convert its stablecoin-backed user protection fund into 15,000 BTC, reinforcing bitcoin as its long-term reserve asset.
- Binance purchased a final 4,545 bitcoin, bringing SAFU holdings to 15,000 BTC worth about $1 billion at completion.
- The move comes after a January 30 announcement that the exchange would convert $1 billion worth of stablecoins into bitcoin.
- SAFU, created to protect users from hacks and unforeseen losses, is now fully backed by bitcoin, with a pledge to replenish funds if value falls below $800 million.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has completed the final leg of its plan to convert the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) entirely into bitcoin , closing out a $1 billion transition from stablecoin reserves into BTC.
The exchange purchased a final tranche of 4,545 BTC, bringing SAFU’s total holdings to 15,000 BTC, valued at roughly $1.005 billion at a bitcoin price of $67,000 at the time of completion, according to a post on X on Thursday.
The world's largest cryptocurrency was trading around $67,500 at publication time.
SAFU, established to protect users from losses caused by unforeseen events such as hacks, was originally backed by a mix of assets including stablecoins. Under the new framework, the fund is now fully denominated in bitcoin. Binance also pledged to replenish the reserve if its value drops below $800 million due to market volatility.
The 30-day transition was finalized within the timeline Binance set when it first announced the strategy shift. The move traces back to late January, when the exchange revealed it would convert $1 billion in dollar-pegged tokens held in SAFU into bitcoin, reinforcing its view of BTC as a long-term reserve asset.
A growing number of companies have begun adopting bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset in recent years, shifting portions of their treasuries from traditional fiat holdings into BTC. This trend reflects a broader institutional acceptance of bitcoin’s long-term store-of-value properties amid persistent inflationary pressures and low yields on conventional assets.
Binance exchange took an early onchain step in that process on Feb. 2, transferring 1,315 BTC, worth roughly $100 million worth of bitcoin, from its hot wallets into SAFU. That transaction signaled the start of what would become one of the largest single treasury-style reallocations into bitcoin by a crypto exchange.
Binance said the fully bitcoin-backed SAFU underscores its confidence in BTC as the premier long-term reserve asset.
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As stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
As stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
Why it matters:
As stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
