The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has circulated an internal memo to its prosecutors, warning of upcoming changes in its interaction with Binance. According to this document, starting June 8, 2026, the largest cryptocurrency exchange may cease the practice of so-called "voluntary freezes" of accounts at the request of law enforcement and transition to exclusively formal procedures, such as requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs).
What is changing in the relationship between Binance and the DOJ?
The essence of the DOJ's warning boils down to one thing: whereas previously Binance could quickly block suspicious assets upon an oral or informal request, now a full legal process will be required. This means that investigations, especially those involving multiple jurisdictions, could drag on for weeks or even months. During this time, stolen or illegally obtained funds could be moved to other blockchains or beyond the reach of U.S. authorities.
The internal directive explicitly states that Binance will now only respond to requests submitted through official channels—MLATs or other interstate procedures. "Voluntary freezes," which were an effective tool for rapid response, are becoming a thing of the past.
Binance denies: "We have not changed our policy"
For its part, Binance has categorically denied any changes to its policy. A representative of the exchange stated that the company not only has no plans to scale back cooperation but is also exploring opportunities to expand it. "Any claims that we have already reduced or intend to reduce cooperation with law enforcement are incorrect," Binance emphasized.
Nevertheless, the very fact of the DOJ leak and the emergence of such a memo indicates that tensions between the agency and the exchange persist. Recall that in 2023, Binance reached a record settlement with U.S. authorities totaling $4.3 billion, under which it agreed to enhance compliance and allow independent monitoring of its operations.
Cryptalist Analysis: What does this mean for the market?
Even if Binance does not formally change its policy, the signal from the DOJ itself is telling. U.S. regulators continue to closely monitor how global exchanges fulfill their obligations. For cryptocurrency crime investigations, the loss of the ability to quickly freeze assets is a serious blow to operational speed. On the other hand, if Binance indeed transitions to working exclusively through formal procedures, it could set a dangerous precedent, giving malicious actors more time to withdraw funds.
In my opinion, this incident is less about an actual change in Binance's policy and more about a public demonstration that U.S. justice is keeping its finger on the pulse. The market should prepare for compliance and transparency requirements to only tighten, and any deviations from assumed obligations to be immediately publicized.