Nikolas Sargeant
Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is celebrating its ninth anniversary after reaching more than 323 million registered users across more than 100 countries.
The milestone highlights the rapid expansion of the cryptocurrency industry, with Binance revealing that approximately 43% of the world's crypto holders now use its platform.
When Binance launched in July 2017, fewer than six million people worldwide owned cryptocurrency. Today, that figure has climbed to more than 741 million, representing growth of over 12,000% in less than a decade.
During the same period, Binance grew from a startup exchange into one of the industry's largest financial platforms.
Crypto Adoption Enters the Mainstream
Binance's anniversary comes as digital assets continue gaining acceptance across the global financial system. Institutional participation has reached record levels, with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and digital asset investment trusts now holding more than 12% of Bitcoin's circulating supply.
Meanwhile, governments across the G20, the European Union, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are introducing regulatory frameworks for digital assets, further narrowing the gap between traditional finance and blockchain-based financial services.
Rather than viewing its ninth anniversary solely as a celebration of past achievements, Binance says it represents the next phase of its long-term vision—to become a global financial super app capable of serving more than three billion users worldwide.
The exchange reported continued growth during the first half of 2026, expanding both its user base and trading ecosystem.
Key highlights include:
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More than 323 million registered users, representing a 7% increase during the first half of 2026.
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Over $156 trillion in cumulative trading volume across all products, up from $145 trillion at the end of 2025.
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A 9% increase in institutional users, reflecting growing participation from professional investors.
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More than $80 billion in monthly traditional finance (TradFi) trading volume since March 2026.
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An 11% increase in listed cryptocurrencies and a 3% rise in available trading pairs during the first half of the year.
Binance Expands Beyond Crypto Into Traditional Financial Markets
Over the past year, Binance has significantly broadened its product offerings beyond digital assets by introducing traditional financial products, including stock trading, ETFs, and pre-IPO perpetual contracts.
These products leverage Binance's blockchain infrastructure, allowing users to trade around the clock using stablecoin settlement while accessing multiple asset classes from a single platform.
The company says adoption has been strong since launch. TradFi products have generated more than $80 billion in monthly trading volume since March 2026.
Its direct stock trading platform, introduced in June 2026, surpassed $1 billion in assets under management (AUM) within its first month while recording more than $3 billion in cumulative trading volume.
Meanwhile, Binance's tokenized U.S. securities product, bStocks, exceeded $100 million in AUM within two weeks of launch. Nearly 47% of bStocks trading activity occurs outside regular U.S. market hours, highlighting growing demand for continuous market access.
Despite expanding into traditional finance, Binance said its cryptocurrency business continues to remain a key driver of growth.
The exchange has now processed approximately $156.4 trillion in cumulative trading volume, including around $11.4 trillion during the first half of 2026 alone.
Institutional participation also continued to rise, with professional users increasing by 9% during the same period.
According to Binance, the sustained growth came despite a more challenging crypto market during the first half of the year, suggesting increasing long-term participation rather than activity driven solely by market cycles.
Binance Eyes Three Billion Users
Binance believes combining crypto services with traditional financial products positions it to become a comprehensive financial platform offering trading, payments, savings, and investment opportunities within one ecosystem.
The company sees significant opportunities in regions where traditional financial infrastructure remains limited, arguing that blockchain technology can provide more accessible and cost-effective financial services.
Industry estimates suggest around 741 million people globally own cryptocurrency, compared with roughly 630 million online brokerage accounts, underscoring the expanding reach of digital assets.
Binance Co-Founder and Co-CEO Yi He said the company's growth reflects a broader transformation in global finance.
She noted that cryptocurrency ownership has increased from fewer than six million people when Binance launched in 2017 to more than 741 million today, with 323 million using Binance's platform.
According to Yi He, the company remains focused on expanding financial access worldwide and believes the industry is still in its early stages.
Co-CEO Richard Teng emphasized that user trust remains central to Binance's strategy. He said the company views its expansion into stocks, ETFs, and tokenized securities as an extension of its commitment to providing users with broader access to global financial markets while maintaining the trust of the millions who use the platform.
"Built by You" Anniversary Campaign
To commemorate its ninth anniversary, Binance has launched a global campaign themed "Built by You."
The initiative recognizes the role of the platform's community in shaping Binance's growth over the past nine years through trading, education, development, and ecosystem participation.
As part of the celebration, Binance is offering up to $4.5 million in rewards through an interactive campaign featuring nine landmarks inside a virtual "Binance City," with each destination representing a different aspect of the Binance ecosystem.
Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 320 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, trading engine speed, protections for investors, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products and offerings from trading and finance to education, research, social good, payments, institutional services, and Web3 features. Binance is devoted to building an inclusive crypto ecosystem to increase the freedom of money and financial access for people around the world with crypto as the fundamental means.
