Connect with us

News

Binance Enters Syrian Market As Sanctions Lifted

The crypto exchange has granted full trading access to Syrian residents in a bid to promote financial inclusion and economic revival.

Published

on

binance enters syrian market as sanctions lifted

Global cryptocurrency giant Binance has officially entered the Syrian market, offering residents unrestricted access to its extensive suite of products and services after the recent lifting of international sanctions on the country.

Effective immediately, Syrian users can engage in spot and futures trading, access over 300 tokens and stablecoins — including Bitcoin, XRP, and Dogecoin — and utilize Binance Pay. This development positions Binance, currently the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, as a significant catalyst in Syria’s economic recovery efforts.

“For years, people in Syria have watched the crypto world evolve, unable to participate not by choice but by circumstance,” Binance noted in a statement. “Syrian residents can now securely participate in the digital asset economy,” the company stated.

Binance also stressed the role cryptocurrency can play in financial inclusion, combating inflation, facilitating cross-border remittances, and reconnecting Syrian businesses with global customers. CEO Richard Teng described the initiative as “opening futures and horizons … to build, invest and connect”.

Previously, global crypto exchanges, including Binance, restricted services in Syria in compliance with international sanctions. However, the political landscape shifted dramatically following the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime last December. Since then, the US and EU have gradually lifted economic restrictions, facilitating Syria’s reintegration into the global economy.

Also Read: Whish Money Launches Region’s First Cardless Shopify Checkout

This move comes amid a broader wave of positive developments for Syria’s economic recovery. Recent milestones include significant investments from Gulf countries, notably a $7 billion energy infrastructure deal backed by Qatar’s UCC Holding, an $800 million port agreement with UAE-based DP World, and a $6.5 billion aid commitment from international donors. Additionally, in May, the World Bank cleared Syria’s outstanding $15.5 million debt following payments from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Binance’s entry into Syria underscores cryptocurrency’s potential as a vital tool for economic revitalization, offering citizens an efficient and secure alternative to traditional financial systems weakened by prolonged conflict and isolation. As Binance opens its doors to Syrian residents, it marks a significant step toward reconnecting Syria with the global digital economy and fostering long-term financial stability.

Advertisement

📢 Get Exclusive Monthly Articles, Updates & Tech Tips Right In Your Inbox!

JOIN 23K+ SUBSCRIBERS

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Visa’s Return To Syria Starts With A Test And A Bank In Lebanon

Foreign visitors will be the first users to benefit, but whether Syria’s own banks and cardholders follow is still an open question.

Published

on

visa's return to syria starts with a test and a bank in lebanon

Visa is returning to Syria. Its first live international card transaction in the country was a test rather than a launch, and the milestone event ran through a Lebanese bank.

The acquirer (the bank on the merchant’s side of a card payment) was Fransabank Lebanon, with Paymera as the other named partner. Nadim Moujaes, who heads a Fransabank Group subsidiary, describes the test as both the culmination of “longstanding efforts to link Syria back to international payment networks” and “the first step in a larger path”.

“We are excited to have successfully tested live transactions today as we plan to enable international visitors to use their Visa cards while in Syria,” says Leila Serhan, Visa’s senior vice president and group country manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan region. Although a significant first step, that plan doesn’t come with a hard date for when a visitor’s card will work normally.

Mohammed Safwat Raslan, governor of the Central Bank of Syria, says the test paves the way for international card acceptance in Syria and that maintaining strong compliance, risk management and operational controls will remain essential. Serhan likewise stresses that Visa has worked within applicable legal, regulatory and compliance requirements. For a test transaction, it seems there was a great deal of attention paid to the rules, with the entire operation being carefully managed.

Also Read: Lebanon’s 5G Era Begins With 150 Stations And A $1M Budget

The test is the latest step in a sequence that began in December 2025, when Visa announced a strategic roadmap to support Syria’s integration into the global digital economy. In February 2026 it hosted its first industry gathering of banks, ecosystem partners and policymakers in Damascus and, the same month, signed an agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in San Francisco.

Michel Kattouah, Paymera’s CEO, called the test “the return of international card acceptance,” but while that’s positive news, there’s no word yet on when a Syrian bank will issue a Visa card to a Syrian customer.

Continue Reading

#Trending