Crypto exchange Binance to wind down derivatives in Europe

Major cryptocurrency exchange Binance said on Friday it would wind down its futures and derivatives products offerings across Europe, a move that comes after unprecedented pressure from regulators. The exchange had said earlier this month it stopped selling digital tokens linked to shares, after regulators cracked down on the cryptocurrency exchange platform's "stock tokens" offerings.

Major cryptocurrency exchange Binance said on Friday it would wind down its futures and derivatives products offerings across Europe, a move that comes after unprecedented pressure from regulators. Binance users in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands will, with immediate effect, not be able to open new futures or derivatives products accounts, the exchange said in a statement on its website.

Users from these countries will, from a date to be announced later, have 90 days to close their open positions, Binance said. The move comes amid growing pressure on Binance from financial authorities across the world, including Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, and Italy.

In the wake of the unprecedented crackdown, Binance said on Monday it would stop offering cryptocurrency margin trading involving the Australian dollar, euro, and sterling. The exchange had said earlier this month it stopped selling digital tokens linked to shares after regulators cracked down on the cryptocurrency exchange platform's "stock tokens" offerings.