United States v. Binance Holdings Limited, d/b/a Binance.com (2024)

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United States v. Binance Holdings Limited, d/b/a Binance.com (1)

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Case

Overview

On November 21, 2023, the Department of Justice announced that Binance Holdings Limited (Binance) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and to failto register as a money transmitting business, failure to register as a money transmitting business, and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, prioritized growth, market share, and profits over compliance with U.S. law in a deliberate and calculated effort to profit from the U.S. market without implementing controls required by U.S. law. Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties and will undertake compliance enhancement and remediation and retain an independent monitor. Simultaneously, Binance’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Changpeng Zhao, pleaded guilty to violating the BSA by causing Binance to violate the BSA by causing Binance to fail to implement an effective anti-money laundering program. This is the Department’s largest corporate guilty plea that also involves the guilty plea of a Chief Executive Officer. This prosecution was led by the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

Case Open Date

Updated December 11, 2023

United States v. Binance Holdings Limited, d/b/a Binance.com (2024)

FAQs

Did the CEO of Binance plead guilty? ›

Changpeng Zhao, the former chief executive of Binance, was sentenced on Tuesday to four months in prison after pleading guilty to violating US money-laundering laws at the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange.

What was the settlement for the Binance lawsuit? ›

Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion in November to settle with the Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over illicit finance breaches.

Is Binance money laundering? ›

Binance agreed to pay more than $4 billion in fines and other penalties as part of a coordinated settlement with the federal government last fall. The company admitted to engaging in anti-money laundering activities, unlicensed money transmitting and sanctions violations.

Why did CZ plead guilty? ›

In November, Zhao—better known as CZ—pleaded guilty to willfully violating anti-money-laundering rules that enabled hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions involving US-sanctioned entities, including Iran and Cuba, to pass through the Binance platform.

Why was Binance banned in the US? ›

It has been alleged that Binance could be used as a funding mechanism for terrorist groups. In November 2023, the company pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting, and sanctions violations.

Is Binance US in trouble? ›

In the June lawsuit, the SEC filed 13 charges against Binance, accusing the exchange of mishandling customer funds and offering registered securities, alleging that the company and founder Changpeng Zhao had engaged in an “extensive web of deception.”

Can I get my money back from Binance? ›

In general, Binance, like most cryptocurrency exchanges, does not offer refunds for losses incurred while trading on their platform. Trading cryptocurrencies is a high-risk activity, and users are expected to be aware of the potential risks and losses associated with trading.

Is Binance in trouble financially? ›

As part of the plea agreement, Binance has agreed to forfeit $2,510,650,588 and to pay a criminal fine of $1,805,475,575 for a total financial penalty of $4,316,126,163.

Can I get my money back if I got scammed from Binance? ›

DO YOU WANT TO RECOVER YOUR SCAMMED CRYPTO FROM THE SCAMMER? They are so many ways you can recover your scam money but some of you are so reluctant of doing it. Contact Binance for help or you Contact a Recovery expert to help you out in recovering your money.

Is Binance safe now? ›

Binance is often considered one of the safest exchanges in the world if you consider the level of security.

In which countries is Binance banned? ›

COUNTRY WHOSE BAN THE TRADING ON BINANCE
  • Ontario (Canada)
  • China.
  • Europe (for derivatives trading)
  • Malaysia.
  • Japan.
  • UK.
  • Thailand.
  • #TrendingTopic #BTC.
Feb 28, 2024

Can crypto be stolen from Binance? ›

4. Binance. Perhaps the most high-profile of crypto trading hacks, cybercriminals targeted the Binance exchange in October 2022, eventually taking $570 million.

Will Binance CEO go to jail? ›

SEATTLE, April 30 (Reuters) - Changpeng Zhao, the former chief executive of Binance, was sentenced on Tuesday to four months in prison after pleading guilty to violating U.S. laws against money laundering at the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Why is Binance founder in jail? ›

Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange, was sentenced on Tuesday to four months in prison after pleading guilty last year to charges that he failed to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program.

Who is the CEO of Binance money laundering? ›

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sentenced to 4 months for allowing money laundering. SEATTLE (AP) — Binance founder Changpeng Zhao was sentenced Tuesday to four months in prison for allowing rampant money laundering on the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange.

What was the outcome of the Binance lawsuit? ›

Beyond the Courtroom: The Wider Regulatory Scene

For instance, the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and other U.S. agencies reached a $4.3 billion settlement with Binance last November to resolve the anti-money laundering cases brought against the company.

What was the settlement for the CEO of Binance? ›

A federal judge approved a plea deal by Binance on Friday, requiring the beleaguered cryptocurrency exchange to pay more than $4.3 billion in fines and restitution, after the company and its founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty late last year to breaking anti-money laundering laws and violating sanctions.

What is the issue with the CEO of Binance? ›

Zhao has been hit with a partial knock to his overall fortune — he was forced to pay a $50 million fine, in addition to the $4.3 billion in fines and forfeiture Binance was ordered to pay for violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions on Iran.

What was Binance guilty of? ›

Binance agreed to pay more than $4 billion in fines and other penalties as part of a coordinated settlement with the federal government last fall. The company admitted to engaging in anti-money laundering activities, unlicensed money transmitting and sanctions violations.

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