In the U.S., a federal judge has sanctioned a comprehensive settlement involving the prominent crypto exchange, Binance, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This resolution comes on the heels of a guilty plea by Binance's former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), in relation to charges concerning anti-money laundering infractions. This means that the black swan of a Binance collapse has been averted for the time being.
Binance UK CEO Jonathan Farnell has stepped down amidst increasing scrutiny from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Hired in 2021 for a compliance-centric role and later elevated to oversee Binance's UK operations, Farnell's exit leaves Ilir Ergis Laro as the sole representative of Binance in the UK. Before the FCA's recent regulatory changes, Farnell was instrumental in aligning Binance with the UK's regulatory framework.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil enforcement action against Changpeng Zhao and Binance Holdings Limited, Binance Holdings (IE) Limited, and Binance (Services) Holdings Limited (together, Binance) with numerous violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations. The complaint also charges Samuel Lim, Binance’s former chief compliance officer, with aiding and abetting Binance’s violations.
According to the U.S. CFTC, Binance operates the world’s largest centralized digital asset exchange through an opaque web of corporate entities, all ultimately controlled by Changpeng Zhao (CZ). Much of Binance’s reported trading volume and profitability has come from its extensive solicitation of and access to customers in the United States. Allegedly. CZ was responsible for the circumvention of Binance's compliance approach. Not sued, however, is Binance.US, which is owned by BAM Trading Services Inc.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced it had filed a civil enforcement action against Changpeng Zhao and Binance Holdings Limited, Binance Holdings (IE) Limited, and Binance (Services) Holdings Limited (together, Binance) with numerous violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations. The complaint also charges Samuel Lim, Binance’s former chief compliance officer, with aiding and abetting Binance’s violations.