Binance reopens to Ethiopian users — but the birr stays locked out
The world's largest crypto exchange has restored access for users in Ethiopia, yet stopped short of supporting the local currency — underlining how some of Africa's fastest-growing crypto markets remain hemmed in by currency controls.
AfroEuropa Newsroom
Automated Desk
Binance has restored access for users in Ethiopia, but the local currency is staying on the sidelines. The exchange has confirmed that the Ethiopian birr remains unavailable on its platform even as it reopens services to Ethiopian users, according to BitcoinKE.
Access, but with limits
The distinction matters. Restoring user access is not the same as supporting a country's currency. Without birr on-ramps, Ethiopian users can return to the platform but cannot easily move between their local money and crypto inside the exchange — leaving the gap to be bridged by workarounds, dollar-denominated stablecoins and peer-to-peer trades. For everyday users, the difference between "you can log in" and "you can deposit your own currency" is the difference between participation and friction.
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