Is Binance.us owned by Binance?

Many users look at the two domains binance.com and binance.us and assume only the suffix has changed, but behind them are two entirely different legal entities. Accounts are not shared, coin lists differ, and fees aren't identical either. Pick the right entry point or your effort is wasted. You can go straight to the Global main domain via the Binance Official Site, or download the Binance Official App to confirm the environment on mobile. Apple users can refer to the iOS Install Guide. This article lays out every core difference between the two sites.

Basics of the Two Companies

One-line takeaway: binance.com is the Global site, run by Binance Holdings; binance.us is run by BAM Trading Services, an independent U.S. company. The two share the Binance brand, but legally they are separate.

binance.com (Global)

Founded in 2017, with its principal entity registered in the Cayman Islands, and serving most of the world except the U.S. It has the broadest product line — spot, futures, options, earn, NFTs, Launchpad, and more. Registered users globally exceed 200 million.

binance.us (U.S.)

Established separately in 2019, headquartered in San Francisco, California, and operated under license by BAM Trading Services. It must comply with U.S. federal and state financial regulations, so its product line is correspondingly restricted — only assets and products approved for circulation can be listed.

Why the Split

U.S. cryptocurrency regulation is much stricter than in other regions, involving three regulators — the SEC, CFTC, and FinCEN — and each state also has its own MTL licensing requirements. Binance carved the U.S. business out to operate independently so that the Global site isn't directly subject to U.S. regulation, while the compliant U.S. business can focus on the local market.

Are Accounts Shared

This is where users trip up most often. The answer: accounts are not shared.

Registration Systems Are Entirely Independent

An account registered on binance.com, when used to log in at binance.us, returns "account does not exist." Same goes the other way. The user databases on the two sites are fully isolated.

Assets Are Not Shared Either

If you hold 1 BTC on binance.com, that asset exists only on the Global site. On binance.us your balance will show 0. To move assets to binance.us, you must withdraw on-chain and deposit — the process is identical to transferring coins between two different exchanges.

KYC Has to Be Done Again

The KYC processes on the two sites are independent, and an identity verification on one doesn't sync to the other. binance.us, due to compliance requirements, is stricter at the KYC stage than the Global site, and may require additional tax identifier information (SSN/ITIN).

Who Should Use Which

Which platform to pick depends on which country you're in, what you want to trade, and your regulatory identity.

U.S. Residents Must Use binance.us

U.S. residents, long-term U.S.-based users, or those whose primary IP is in the U.S. should use binance.us. The Global site restricts U.S. IPs, and forcing access will be blocked. Even if you work around it and use the Global site, KYC won't pass, and your assets may ultimately be frozen.

Non-U.S. Residents Use binance.com

Users elsewhere should choose binance.com for the most complete features, deepest liquidity, and lowest fees. If your identity document is a non-U.S. passport or ID, registering on the Global site goes most smoothly.

Cross-Border Identities Need Professional Advice

If you're a U.S. green card holder, a U.S. citizen living abroad, or hold a U.S. tax ID, it gets complicated. You need to look at your tax residency to decide. When uncertain, contact support on both sites and ask them separately.

Core Differences

As the table shows, the Global site clearly has a richer product line, while the U.S. site's edge is compliance and USD rails.

Coin Differences

binance.com has listed more than 350 coins, covering mainstream and long tail. binance.us, because of the SEC's stance, has delisted many coins that trade normally on the Global site. For example:

• SOL (Solana): the SEC named SOL a security in its complaint, and binance.us stopped trading it
• ADA (Cardano): delisted from the U.S. site for the same securities-classification concern
• MATIC (Polygon): delisted on the U.S. site
• BNB: present on the Global site, and also on the U.S. site (U.S. version)

This means if you want to trade these coins, the Global site is the better fit.

Fees and On/Off Ramps

Spot Fees

The base spot fee on both sites is 0.1%, but the U.S. site generally offers free USD on/off ramps (ACH transfers). The Global site doesn't support direct USD fiat deposits and relies on C2C or third-party payment.

Fiat Rails

As a U.S.-licensed company, binance.us plugs into ACH, Wire, and Debit Card rails at U.S. banks, making deposits very convenient for U.S. users. For ordinary users, binance.com relies mainly on the C2C market and indirect deposits via stablecoins such as USDT.

Futures Fees

Only binance.com offers futures, at 0.02% maker / 0.04% taker. The U.S. site has no such product at all.

Notes on Using the Sites

Don't Register on Both Sites with the Same Identity

Even though accounts are independent, registering on both sites with the same ID document triggers risk controls. U.S. residents should only register on the U.S. site; non-U.S. residents should use the Global site and not go to the U.S. site.

Watch IP and VPN

The Global site is sensitive to U.S. IPs. If you access the Global site from a U.S. IP for a long time, your account may be temporarily restricted. Conversely, if you're a U.S. resident but frequently log in to the U.S. site from an overseas IP, it triggers a risk review too.

Cross-Site Transfers Go On-Chain

There is no direct in-platform transfer channel. To move assets from one site to the other you have to withdraw on-chain and deposit, paying a miner fee each time. Picking the wrong network can lead to lost assets.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm a Chinese User — Which Should I Register?

Mainland Chinese users are neither U.S. residents nor suited to the U.S. site (no RMB support) and should choose binance.com Global.

Is the U.S. Site's Safety Fund the Same as the Global Site's?

No. The Global site has the SAFU fund, and the U.S. site has its own independent user-protection mechanism; the two pools are entirely separate.

Can I Trade Futures on binance.us?

No. The U.S. site only offers spot trading plus a limited set of staking and earn products — no futures, options, or leveraged tokens.

Is the BNB on Both Sites the Same BNB?

Technically, it's the same on-chain BNB asset, and both sites support BNB. But the assets don't transfer between accounts; you have to go on-chain to move them.

Will the Two Sites Merge in the Future?

Not in the short term. Their compliance frameworks are completely different, and a merger would require U.S. regulatory approval — extremely difficult. Users should treat them as two independent platforms.