Two US federal courts have dismissed the claims brought against Binance under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) in the space of a week. The rulings were delivered by courts in the Southern District of New York and in Alabama.
In separate rulings that came out in favour of the world largest cryptocurrency exchange by registered users, judges determined that the plaintiffs failed to meet basic legal standards to support their allegations. One court described the filing as a “shotgun pleading,” while the other rejected every claim across a 62-page decision. Both courts have allowed the plaintiffs an opportunity to file amended complaints, though in each case the judges flagged serious deficiencies in the original filings.
New York Ruling
In a 62-page decision, the New York court dismissed all claims brought by 535 plaintiffs who alleged that Binance provided material support related to 64 terrorist attacks. The court found that the plaintiffs failed to establish any of their central allegations: that Binance assisted terrorists, associated itself with terrorist attacks, participated in or sought to advance those attacks, or engaged in any conspiracy with terrorist organisations.
The court has allowed the plaintiffs 60 days to file an amended complaint in light of a recent appellate decision. Binance has said it is confident that no amended pleading will be able to address the fundamental deficiencies the court identified.
Alabama Ruling
Days later, a federal court in Alabama dismissed all claims in a separate ATA lawsuit in a 19-page ruling. The judge described the filing as a “shotgun pleading,” noting that it failed to clearly specify claims and improperly grouped all defendants without distinguishing individual conduct or liability. The court also found that the plaintiffs did not meet the basic pleading standard to provide a short and plain statement of their claims.
The plaintiffs have been given until 10 April 2026 to file an amended complaint. The judge warned that failure to adequately address the identified deficiencies would result in the entire case being dismissed.
Binance Response
Eleanor Hughes, General Counsel at Binance, said the New York ruling was “a complete vindication of all false allegations.”
“The court has unambiguously rejected the false and damaging narrative that Binance assisted terrorists,” Hughes said. “We have always maintained that these claims were without merit, and today’s ruling confirms that.”
Following the Alabama decision, Hughes said: “Courts have now examined these claims on two separate occasions and found them to be without merit.”
Outlook
Binance serves a global user base of more than 310 million across over 100 countries. The exchange has pointed to its ongoing investments in compliance infrastructure and regulatory engagement as part of its commitment to legal integrity. The company has stated it will continue to challenge any lawsuits or reports it considers to misrepresent its business model or security practices.
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