U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. held that Binance could not compel a group of U.S. customers to arbitrate claims arising before Feb. 20, 2019 because users lacked sufficient notice of Binance.com’s 2019 terms. The 2019 arbitration clause could not be applied retroactively and an asserted U.S. class‑action waiver was deemed unenforceable. Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed claims accruing on or after Feb. 20, 2019, leaving the pre‑2019 claims to proceed in federal court in Williams v. Binance. Binance said it will vigorously defend the remaining claims.

The judge found users lacked sufficient notice of Binance.com’s 2019 terms, ruled the 2019 arbitration clause could not be applied retroactively, and held a U.S. class‑action waiver unenforceable; those facts increase legal exposure for Binance and keep pre‑2019 claims in federal court. Plaintiffs dismissed post‑Feb. 20, 2019 claims and Binance stated it will defend the remaining claims.