Binance to Convert $1B SAFU Fund into Bitcoin Reserves Amid Market Volatility

Highlights:

• Binance’s SAFU Fund will be fully converted into Bitcoin over 30 days.
• The exchange plans to maintain the fund’s value through regular rebalancing.
• Bitcoin is seen as the foundational asset for Binance’s long-term strategy.

Top crypto exchange Binance has announced plans to convert its $1 billion Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) into Bitcoin within a 30-day period. The ruling comes as the market has been volatile, prompting the exchange to reevaluate its risk management strategy. Binance believes Bitcoin is the foundation of the crypto ecosystem and thus has long-term value despite price volatility.

SAFU Fund Conversion into Bitcoin

The SAFU Fund was initially established in 2018 to protect users against unexpected incidents like hacks. It will now hold Bitcoin rather than a combination of stablecoins and other major crypto assets. Securing the assets of users has always been the aim of the fund. This shift, however, indicates that Binance believes in the prospects of Bitcoin as a long-term reserve. The move by Binance to convert the entire fund into Bitcoin indicates that the exchange is dedicated to a long-term strategy of transparency.

An open letter to the crypto community 💛

During periods of market volatility and pressure, the impact felt across the industry is naturally also felt by Binance.

As a global industry leader, we hold ourselves to elevated standards and continually improve based on feedback from… pic.twitter.com/HvWEQYjuKZ

— Binance (@binance) January 30, 2026

Binance also noted that it will keep a close watch on the value of the SAFU Fund. Should the market price of Bitcoin fall sharply and the overall value of the fund fall below $800 million, Binance will replenish the fund to achieve its goal of 1 billion dollars. This rebalancing will be done after a regular period so that the fund is robust and it can be used for its original purpose.

Ongoing Commitment to Risk Management and User Protection

Binance has consistently shown that it is interested in enhancing risk management and protecting its clients. In 2025, the exchange helped 5.4 million users to identify and avoid scams, preventing possible losses of more than $6.69 billion. Moreover, efforts by Binance to recover incorrect deposits saw the firm recover $1.09 billion for its users.

The SAFU Fund conversion to Bitcoin is accompanied by the overall industry-building process of the exchange. Binance reached 300 million users last year and processed $34 trillion in trading volume. Moreover, the firm’s proof of reserves had more than $162 billion in assets spread across 45 crypto assets last year. This further confirms that asset transparency is central to Binance becoming a market leader.

Industry Reactions and Binance’s Market Positioning

The Binance move has been welcomed positively by the crypto community. Bitcoin investor Lark Davis applauded the move. He pointed out that a decision to convert $1 billion into Bitcoin is a strong vote of confidence in the asset. The approach reflects long-term accumulation plans that are common among many Bitcoin proponents, such as Michael Saylor.

Bullish for Bitcoin, $1B stable conversion to BTC is not chump change. And if we see bigger dumps, Binance will basically be buying together with the likes of Saylor https://t.co/OvsfonVr08

— Lark Davis (@LarkDavis) January 30, 2026

Recently, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao spoke about the potential Bitcoin supercycle in 2026. This is a term used to describe an extended upward price trend that likely exceeds the typical four-year cycle of halving. This perspective is further reflected in the choice of Binance to hold its SAFU Fund fully in Bitcoin. It also positions the exchange to be able to capitalize on the further development of the role of Bitcoin in the global financial arena.

Binance also continues to increase its regulatory presence, most recently pursuing an EU MiCA license in Greece. This would enable the exchange to conduct business with ease throughout the European Union and enhance its presence worldwide.