A U.S. federal court has dismissed all claims against Binance in a lawsuit that accused the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange of providing material support to terrorists, delivering what the company is calling a complete legal victory.
The case, filed in the Southern District of New York, involved 535 plaintiffs who alleged that Binance played a role in 64 terrorist attacks. In a 62-page decision, the court found that the plaintiffs failed to prove any of their central allegations: that Binance assisted terrorists, associated itself with terrorist attacks, participated in or sought to advance those attacks, or conspired with terrorist organizations.
Eleanor Hughes, Binance’s General Counsel, did not mince words in responding to the ruling. “This dismissal is a complete vindication of all false allegations,” Hughes said. “The court has unambiguously rejected the false and damaging narrative that Binance assisted terrorists. We have always maintained that these claims were without merit, and today’s ruling confirms that.”
For folks who have followed the long and winding legal road that Binance has traveled over the past few years, this outcome is notable. The exchange has faced intense regulatory scrutiny globally, including a landmark 2023 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice that resulted in a $4.3 billion penalty and the departure of founder Changpeng Zhao as CEO. Against that backdrop, a full dismissal in an Anti-Terrorism Act case is a meaningful development.
The court did leave one door slightly open. Plaintiffs have 60 days to file an amended complaint, following a recent appellate decision. Binance, however, expressed confidence that no amended filing would be able to fix the fundamental legal deficiencies the court already identified. Given the thoroughness of the 62-page ruling, it is hard to argue with that assessment.
Whether this ruling changes anything in the court of public opinion is another matter entirely. Cryptocurrency exchanges, and Binance in particular, have spent years trying to shake a reputation for being loosely regulated environments where bad actors could move money with little oversight. Binance has argued that it has invested heavily in compliance infrastructure and regulatory engagement, and this ruling at least confirms that the terrorism angle did not hold up under judicial scrutiny.
What makes this case worth paying attention to is the scale of the allegations. Five hundred thirty-five plaintiffs tying a crypto exchange to 64 terror attacks is not a small claim. It is the kind of lawsuit that, if it had gone differently, could have reshaped how courts and regulators view liability in the digital asset space. The fact that the court rejected every single allegation gives the broader crypto industry something to point to when similar claims arise in the future.
Hughes made clear that Binance intends to stay aggressive on the legal front going forward, promising to pursue action against what it described as false and misleading narratives about the company’s business. That posture suggests Binance is not content to simply celebrate this win quietly. It wants to use it as a springboard to push back harder on critics and litigants alike.
For now, though, the scoreboard reads in Binance’s favor. All claims dismissed. Every allegation rejected. The court has spoken.
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