Ok, so, on the surface this story seems like a total corporate-banking-flavored snooze fest...

But so did The Big Short, and it won an Oscar!

Here's what's happening:

​Binance's SWIFT banking partner is set to ban USD transfers below $100K.

Ok...what does that mean, exactly?

As of Feb 1st, if you're transferring crypto from Binance, to your USD-based bank account (or vice versa), you'll only be able to make the transfer if it's for $100K+.

(I.e. Want to convert $1000 worth of Bitcoin into USD and transfer it to your bank account? Not an option as of February).

Some things to note are:

• Credit and debit card payments won't have the same restrictions.

• Binance's banking partner will be doing this with all crypto exchanges that it services, not just Binance.

• Binance are “actively seeking” a new SWIFT partner to avoid service disruptions.

Here's where this change becomes a BIG problem:

Centralized exchanges, like Binance, are the on/off ramps for the crypto world.

(I.e. If you want to convert your crypto into cash - these exchanges are the only real option).

If another banking partner cannot be found to serve the affected exchanges, then anyone with:

1. A USD-based bank account.

2. Less than $100K worth of crypto.

Won't be able to get their money out.

Why is this happening?

It hasn't been made clear just yet...

But this feels like it might be a pre-cursor to the introduction of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC's) - aka government run stablecoins.

Essentially, giving them a logical reason to exist, by giving them a problem to solve. Going a little something like this:

Create a problem (stop everyday retail investors from being able to cash out crypto) → provide a solution (make CBDCs the only way to cash out under $100K) → drive adoption.

If this is all feeling a little tin-foil-hat-ish, you're absolutely right.

Now, let's jump down this rabbit hole