Binance has announced it will suspend Peer-to-Peer (P2P) trading services involving the Ethiopian Birr from May 15, 2026. The decision follows pressure from Ethiopian financial regulators. This comes two months after the National Bank of Ethiopia warned that Birr-paired crypto trades are illegal.
Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced it will suspend Peer-to-Peer (P2P) trading services involving the Ethiopian Birr (ETB) effective May 15, 2026. The platform cited mounting pressure from Ethiopia's financial regulatory bodies as the reason.
This follows a public warning from the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) two months ago, which declared all Birr-denominated crypto trades illegal unless authorized by the central bank. The NBE justified the measure by highlighting risks from crypto volatility, including foreign exchange manipulation, financial scams, and insufficient Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protections.
The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) recently issued a report alleging that digital payment platforms and crypto exchanges facilitate contraband trade, gold smuggling, and other illicit activities. Binance assured users that their ETB funds remain safe and accounts accessible for other services.
The company stated it is working closely with Ethiopian authorities to align with national financial goals and hopes to resume services upon regulatory consensus. Users must complete pending ETB transactions before the May 15 deadline, after which all Birr-related ads and pairs will be removed.