Many users think binance.com and binance.us are the same site with a different suffix, when in fact they are two independently operated platforms — their legal entities, coins, features, and futures leverage all differ. International users should register through the Binance Official Site (binance.com) and download the Binance Official App. iOS users can refer to the iOS Install Guide. Bottom line: unless you are a U.S. resident, you should use binance.com, not binance.us.
The Basics of the Two Platforms
binance.com (International Site)
binance.com is operated by Binance Holdings Ltd. and serves users worldwide (except regions with regulatory restrictions). Registration supports multiple languages including Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean, and accepts email or phone number sign-up. It applies to the vast majority of users in Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa.
binance.us (U.S. Site)
binance.us is operated by BAM Trading Services Inc. and is designed specifically for U.S. residents. Established in September 2019, it is registered with the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and holds Money Transmitter Licenses in multiple states. It only accepts SSN (Social Security Number) or ITIN (Tax Identification Number) verification, and non-U.S. residents cannot register.
Core Differences Compared
| Comparison Item | binance.com | binance.us |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Entity | Binance Holdings Ltd. | BAM Trading Services Inc. |
| Target Users | Global (with some exceptions) | U.S. residents only |
| Number of Coins | Over 350 | About 150 |
| Futures Trading | Supported (up to 125x leverage) | Not supported |
| Options Trading | Supported | Not supported |
| Earn Products | Extensive | Limited |
| Fiat Deposit | SEPA, credit card, P2P, etc. | ACH, bank transfer, debit card |
| Registration Needs | Email / phone number | SSN / ITIN |
| Mobile APP | Global App Store / Google Play | U.S. App Store / Google Play |
| Account Interchange | Not interchangeable | Not interchangeable |
Differences in Coins and Features
binance.com's coin coverage includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, Avalanche, Aptos, Sui, and other major and emerging tokens, plus a large number of altcoins and meme coins. binance.us, out of compliance considerations, only lists coins approved by U.S. regulators. It once delisted ADA, MATIC, SOL, ALGO, and others in the early days, with some later restored, but the total is still significantly smaller than the international site.
Futures and derivatives are the biggest dividing line: binance.com offers USDT-margined perpetual futures, coin-margined futures, delivery futures, options contracts, and more, with leverage up to 125x. binance.us only offers spot and a small number of earn products, with no leveraged derivatives of any kind.
Fee structures also differ: binance.com's spot standard fee is 0.1%, reducible to 0.075% when using BNB discounts. binance.us's spot fee starts at 0.1%, with variations by tier.
Fiat Channel Differences
U.S. users on binance.us can deposit via ACH transfers, wire transfers, and debit cards, with limits varying by KYC tier. The international site offers SEPA (EU), Faster Payments (UK), PIX (Brazil), credit cards, P2P, and more, depending on region. Due to policy, users in mainland China cannot use fiat channels — only P2P or deposits of other cryptocurrencies.
Are the Accounts Interchangeable?
The binance.com and binance.us accounts are entirely separate:
- The same email can be used to register two separate accounts, but login passwords, KYC, and assets are all independent
- You cannot transfer between platforms; you must withdraw on-chain and redeposit
- API Keys only work on the corresponding platform
If you move from the international site to the U.S., you need to go through registration, KYC, and asset transfer on binance.us from scratch.
Which One to Use Depends on Your Status
U.S. residents: can only use binance.us. Since September 2019, the international site has blocked U.S. IP addresses from registering, and forced use may trigger account freezes.
Non-U.S. residents: choose the binance.com international site first — more coins and more features. Even while traveling to the U.S. temporarily, an already-opened international site account typically remains accessible, but it's advisable to pay attention to local regulations.
Dual status: Users holding a U.S. green card and residing long-term in the U.S. should pick binance.us. Non-green-card students or visitors in the U.S. mostly continue to use the international site.
FAQ
Q1: Can binance.com settle in U.S. dollars?
Yes. The international site supports stablecoin pairs such as USDT, USDC, and FDUSD, plus a small number of cash USD channels (depending on region). But the account itself is not a "USD account" — it is fundamentally different from binance.us.
Q2: Can I transfer from binance.us to binance.com?
Not directly. You need to withdraw your assets to an external wallet (or another exchange) and then deposit from the external wallet into binance.com. Withdrawals incur network fees.
Q3: Can both platforms' apps be installed at the same time?
Yes. They are two independent apps, labeled "Binance" and "Binance.US" on iOS, with the same split on Android. The developers are Binance and BAM Trading, respectively.
Q4: What if a non-U.S. user mistakenly registers on binance.us?
binance.us requires an SSN. Without it, you can't complete KYC and the account stays in view-only state. It's best to give up that account and register on the international site instead.
Q5: Is binance.us safe?
binance.us holds Money Transmitter Licenses in multiple states, its funds are segregated and held in third-party custody, and its compliance level is relatively high. However, since the SEC lawsuit in 2023, its business has been limited, with slower token listings and reduced features — an inferior experience compared to the international site.