Binance konverterar 1 miljard dollar från SAFU-fond till Bitcoin

A major development has emerged in the cryptocurrency world: Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges, has announced the conversion of $1 billion from its stablecoin reserves in the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) into Bitcoin (#BTC). This move is aimed at supporting the industry during a period of uncertainty, as stated in the exchange's official open letter published on January 30, 2026. According to the plan, the conversion will take place over the next 30 days, and Binance commits to conducting regular audits and rebalancing to maintain the fund's value at $1 billion. If the market value of the fund drops below $800 million due to BTC price fluctuations, the exchange will restore it to the initial level.

Reasons and Context of the Decision

Binance's decision comes amid a sharp decline in the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin has lost 7% in the last 24 hours, dropping to $82,000, the lowest level since November of last year. Other cryptocurrencies have also suffered: Ether (ETH) fell 8.23% to $2,707, XRP, 7.9% to $1.74, and Solana (SOL), 8% to $113.45. Overall, $1.7 billion in positions were liquidated in a day. Factors influencing the decline include rotation of investments into precious metals, geopolitical tensions, risk-off in stocks, and outflows from Bitcoin ETFs.

Binance emphasized its confidence in Bitcoin's long-term value:

"We continue to believe in Bitcoin as a long-term store of value."

This is not the first such move, in March 2023, the exchange converted $1 billion from SAFU into BTC, ETH, and BNB, which led to a 250% increase in BTC and 200% in ETH over the year, as well as a $1.8 trillion rise in crypto market capitalization. Some analysts, such as those from AMBCrypto, note that the current conversion could amount to about 12,500 BTC at current prices, and it will be carried out gradually to avoid market shocks.

Community Reaction and Criticism

The announcement has elicited mixed reactions in the crypto community. Some users on X express outrage regarding the actions of former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), calling for SAFU to be deployed to buy BTC at this moment. Others, like the post from @sinclairdta, compare the situation to 2023 and hint at a possible repeat of history:

"History doesn't repeat, but it often rhymes."

Criticism intensified following statements from investor Cathie Wood, who linked the recent market weakness to deleveraging associated with Binance. In response, the exchange highlighted its efforts to protect users, including $162.8 billion in Proof of Reserves and the SAFU conversion to BTC as a hedge against dollar inflation. Data from Cryptos R Us shows that shortly after the announcement, nearly $1 billion in BTC was sold during low weekend liquidity, raising questions about internal operations.

Market Implications

Experts believe this move could serve as a catalyst for Bitcoin's recovery, underscoring its role as the primary driver of market inflows. Given that Binance already holds over 648,000 BTC, this strengthens the exchange's position as one of the largest players in the industry. However, in the short term, the market remains volatile, and gradual accumulation may help stabilize prices.