How long it takes
The review period belongs to the exchange, and its criteria are not public, so nobody outside the exchange can promise you a date. What we can honestly publish is the range our past cases fell into, and what tends to shorten or extend a case.
From our experience, cases have taken 5 to 90 days. Some well-prepared cases were completed in 7–12 days. These figures describe past cases and are not a period promised to every client; complex cases can take longer.
1Whose clock is running
| Stage | Period | Whose clock |
|---|---|---|
| Replies from us | We reply quickly; it depends on the time of day (Mon–Fri, 10:00–19:00 GMT+4) | Ours |
| Preparing the documents and the reply to an exchange request | Depends on the complexity of the case | Shared: you supply the information, we help structure it |
| The exchange's review of what you send | Set by the exchange; differs by platform and case type | The exchange's |
| A case from start to finish | 5–90 days in our experience; 7–12 days for some well-prepared cases | Mostly the exchange's |
| Automatic withdrawal hold after a security change (Binance) | 24–48 hours; Binance states it cannot be shortened | Binance's |
The Binance period is stated by Binance in its help centre (source) and may change. Inside that window there is nothing to appeal; waiting is the sensible option.
2What tends to move the date
Usually shortens a case
- One complete reply instead of several partial ones.
- A source-of-funds explanation with no gaps, supported by documents.
- Readable, unedited documents in the format the exchange asks for.
- Answering within the deadline the exchange sets.
Usually extends a case
- Documents that cannot be read. In one of our cases a review stalled for a month because photographs of the documents were of low quality.
- Explanations sent at random: contradictions with earlier answers can seriously complicate a case.
- Missed deadlines and repeated tickets on the same question.
- Funds whose history runs through platforms or counterparties that are hard to document.
- New requests opening during the review.
3Three cases, as they ran
These are examples from our practice, not a promise and not a benchmark. In each, the exchange took its own decision after receiving the explanations. Amounts are approximate.
| Exchange | Amount | How it ran |
|---|---|---|
| Binance | about $150K | Access and withdrawal restored within about 2 weeks. |
| WhiteBit | about $700K | A larger review that took about 1.5 months. |
| Binance | not stated | The account had been frozen for 2 months; access to the funds was restored within about a week. |
The third case shows why we speak about experience rather than dates: it does not mean any client should expect a week.
4Why a promised date deserves caution
Binance's terms state that the list of grounds on which it may restrict an account is not exhaustive and that the criteria behind its risk decisions are confidential. Binance also states that not all account restrictions are open to appeal. A provider who quotes a fixed number of days for a decision the exchange has not yet made is quoting something it does not control. We do not guarantee unblocking and do not promise an exact date.
If someone contacted you first and promised a result in a few days for an advance payment, be careful: the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has warned about operators who approach people who have already lost access to funds (PSA240624, PSA250813).
5Next steps
The first consultation is free: send us the messages you received from the exchange and we will tell you what we see. Related pages: how it works, why exchanges restrict accounts, frequently asked questions.
This page is informational and is not legal advice. The ranges come from our case experience and are not a commitment; periods stated by exchanges are theirs and may change. Case examples are approximate and anonymised, and no outcome is promised. The exchange makes the final decision.