Binance has launched a novel security feature, 'Withdraw Protection', designed to safeguard users against physical coercion and 'wrench attacks'. This feature allows users to lock their accounts for a specified period, ranging from one to seven days, during which time on-chain withdrawals are frozen.
A more stringent 'lockdown' mode prevents early unlocking. According to Binance's Chief Security Officer, Jimmy Su, the feature was developed in response to observed patterns of coerced withdrawals.
Su emphasized that the lock is an internal policy, rather than a cryptographic lock, and is intended to address the irreversible nature of crypto transactions. The feature is not intended to block law enforcement orders, but rather to provide users with an additional layer of control over their accounts. The introduction of Withdraw Protection comes as the threat landscape for crypto holders has evolved, with verified physical coercion incidents increasing by 75% in 2025. The feature is part of a broader defense-in-depth approach, which includes context-aware authentication and user education on managing online presence and protecting confidential information.