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Understanding the SAFU meaning

In the world of cryptocurrency, where security and trust are really important, the concept of the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) stands as a major innovation. This article describes the origins, purpose, and cultural impact of SAFU, particularly in its role in safeguarding user funds.

Origin and purpose of SAFU

The acronym SAFU refers to the “Secure Asset Fund for Users,” an emergency insurance fund established by the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. In July 2018, Binance created this fund, committing 10% of all trading fees to ensure user funds are protected in extreme situations.

SAFU’s financial aspect

By January 29, 2022, the Secure Asset Fund for Users was valued at one billion dollars, showcasing its robust nature. SAFU primarily contains three types of assets: BNB (Binance Coin), BTC (Bitcoin), and BSC-USD (Binance’s stablecoin), all held in separate cold wallets to maximize security.

The sentence “Funds are SAFU”

The term “SAFU” gained popularity from a humorous play on the word “safe,” originating from a YouTube video by the content creator Bizonacci in 2018. This video, titled “Funds are Safu,” was a response to a tweet by Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of Binance at that time, who assured users that their “funds are safe” during a period of unscheduled maintenance.

Changpeng Zhao "SAFU" tweet

The birth of the SAFU meme

The phrase “Funds are SAFU” traces its roots back to an incident on March 7, 2018. Binance users encountered an unexpected maintenance period due to a malfunction in the SYS/BTC trading pair. This event, which included attempts by hackers to exploit the system, led to Changpeng Zhao’s reassuring tweet. The subsequent viral video and Zhao’s embrace of the term cemented “Funds are SAFU” as a staple in crypto slang, often used during similar situations to reassure users.