Binance has officially confirmed a temporary suspension of direct Visa and Mastercard withdrawals for its users in Ukraine. The policy change, which took effect on Monday, December 29, 2025, stems from shifting regulatory changes impacting the exchange's primary fiat partner, Bifinity UAB. While the world’s largest exchange emphasizes that this is a "temporary halt," the news has triggered a mix of frustration and urgency among local traders who rely on seamless on-chain to off-ramp transitions. With the year-end approaching, Binance is now steering its Ukrainian user base toward alternative methods like Swift transfers and P2P trading to maintain financial liquidity.

• A sudden shift in payment partnerships has left thousands of Ukrainian users searching for new ways to cash out.
• Discover why a specific regulatory deadline for Bifinity UAB is at the heart of this service disruption.
• Learn about the alternative "bridge" solutions available to users until the expected service resumption in early 2026.

The current friction in the Ukrainian market is not an isolated technical glitch but a strategic response to a changing legal landscape. Earlier this month, Binance proactively informed its customers that its long-term fiat provider, Bifinity UAB, would be ceasing services by December 31, 2025. This decision was driven by an "evolution of the legislative and regulatory framework" affecting the provider's ability to process direct card transactions in certain regions.

As a result, the "direct to card" feature for Visa and Mastercard has been disabled for those who previously utilized Bifinity’s infrastructure. This suspension also impacts automated financial tools; recurring crypto purchases and existing fiat-based limit buy orders will remain frozen during this transition period. Despite these hurdles, the exchange maintains that users' core assets remain safe and that the "deposit" functionality—allowing users to buy crypto with cards—remains largely operational through alternative gateways.

To mitigate the impact of the Visa and Mastercard pause, Binance is encouraging the use of its Peer-to-Peer (P2P) platform and Swift banking transfers. Unlike direct card withdrawals, Swift transfers continue to support both incoming and outgoing fiat flows, albeit often with higher minimums and longer processing times. The exchange also noted that its partnership with Zen.com, a popular route for Euro and Polish Zloty transactions, is currently limited but is scheduled to resume full functionality for Ukrainian users on January 6, 2026.

This localized disruption coincides with a broader push for regulatory changes across the continent. Ukraine has been working to align its digital asset laws with European standards, such as the MiCA framework. This move mirrors global trends, such as Japan’s recent reclassification of crypto as financial products to enhance market stability. As authorities tighten their grip on fiat-to-crypto gateways, exchanges are forced to frequently rotate their banking partners to ensure continued compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) protocols.

The timing of the Ukrainian service update is particularly sensitive, as Binance faces fresh allegations regarding its global compliance standards. A recent report by the Financial Times alleged that 13 linked accounts processed approximately $1.7 billion in transactions between 2021 and late 2025, including $144 million after the exchange's landmark $4.3 billion U.S. settlement in late 2023. The report claimed some of these accounts were linked to high-risk jurisdictions and potentially suspicious entities.

Binance has vigorously rejected the report's framing, stating that it has "robust systems in place to flag and investigate suspicious transactions." The exchange clarified that none of the wallets mentioned were under sanctions at the time the activity occurred. This ongoing tension highlights the precarious balance global exchanges must strike between providing open financial access and satisfying the rigorous demands of international regulators. For Ukrainian users, the current withdrawal pause serves as a stark reminder of how quickly the bridge between traditional finance and the digital economy can shift.

Quotes and Expert Opinions

"The announcement regarding changes to payment methods applies exclusively to users from Ukraine who previously used Bifinity services... The changes are not related to the National Bank of Ukraine and do not affect P2P operations, which continue to function as usual." — Binance Spokesperson

"Starting from 31/12/2025, Bifinity UAB will cease to provide services to Binance users due to the evolution of the legislative and regulatory framework applicable to it." — Official Binance Support Notice

FAQs

Why did Binance suspend Visa and Mastercard withdrawals in Ukraine?
The suspension is tied to regulatory changes affecting Binance's fiat service provider, Bifinity UAB. As the provider winds down its services by the end of 2025, direct withdrawals to Visa and Mastercard cards are temporarily unavailable for affected users.

Can I still deposit funds using my bank card?
Yes. According to current reports, the "on-ramp" functionality remains intact. Ukrainian users can still use Visa and Mastercard to deposit funds and purchase cryptocurrency, although some specific automated purchase features may be limited.

What are the best alternatives for withdrawing funds right now?
Users are encouraged to use Swift transfers for direct bank payouts or the Binance P2P (Peer-to-Peer) marketplace. Additionally, Apple Pay and Google Pay remain available for account top-ups.

When will full withdrawal functionality return?
While a specific date for direct Visa and Mastercard withdrawals has not been set, Binance has indicated that related services like Zen.com are expected to resume full functionality for Ukrainian users on January 6, 2026.

Is my money safe during this suspension?
Yes. The changes only affect the method of moving fiat currency off the exchange. Your cryptocurrency holdings and existing fiat balances remain fully accessible and can be traded or moved via other supported withdrawal networks.