Syria has been removed from the US terrorism sanctions list, ending over four decades of financial restrictions. President Donald Trump announced the decision on May 13, 2025, during a visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Syria's future after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's government. The move was formalized through an Executive Order signed by Trump on June 30, 2025, which took effect on July 1. The order revoked six previous executive orders that had formed the foundation of US sanctions on Syria. As a result, 518 individuals and organisations were removed from the US Treasury Department's sanctions list, enabling Syrian businesses and citizens to access international financial services previously denied to them.
Sanctions remain in place for Bashar al-Assad and some of his close associates. The US also reviewed sanctions related to Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group involved in Syria's post-Assad transition talks. By the end of 2025, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and several others were removed from certain sanctions lists. The policy shift has impacted the cryptocurrency sector, with Binance lifting restrictions on Syrian users, allowing them to trade digital currencies such as Bitcoin. For years, Syria's economy was constrained by US sanctions, including the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, which limited access to global banking, payment platforms and digital asset markets. Many financial institutions had avoided Syrian-linked transactions due to legal risks. The removal is expected to create new economic opportunities and support Syria's reintegration into the global financial system.
Trump lifted sanctions on hundreds of Syrian entities while maintaining them on Assad, signaling a selective approach to accountability. The removal of financial barriers benefits Syrian businesses and individuals previously cut off from global markets. Binance's decision to allow Syrian users access to cryptocurrency trading reflects a broader shift in digital finance access. This change offers immediate practical benefits to Syrians navigating a cash-reliant economy long isolated by war and sanctions.
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