Coinspeaker
Binance Legal Issues Could Worsen as CFTC Gets More Aggressive, Gains Access to Crypto Exchange’s Records
The recent news of Binance’s former CEO pleading guilty to money laundering charges has undoubtedly made headlines, adding to the circumstances that led to his decision to resign as CEO. A settlement was reached to resolve this matter, resulting in a $50 million fine imposed on CZ (the former CEO) and a $4.3 billion payment to be made by Binance itself. With these measures in place, the exchange can continue operations without further disruption from the aforementioned case. However, this has affected the faith of some of the crypto company’s users as they have started to withdraw aggressively from the exchange in recent days.
It is worth noting, however, that the ongoing legal proceedings show no signs of slowing down. Christy Goldsmith Romero, a Commissioner at the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has stated that the commission will pursue legal action against crypto exchanges that violate the country’s trade laws. Romero emphasized that operating in the US market should be viewed as a privilege rather than an inherent right, emphasizing the expectation that all entities, including non-US companies, will strictly follow the law.
In his statement, the government official stressed the importance of not using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or engaging in any activities that violate the fundamental principles of Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols. This includes addressing concerns about the limited scrutiny of customer responses solely inquiring about their citizenship in the United States without trying to verify the accuracy of such declarations.
Regulators Aggressive Approach Towards Crypto Companies
The global cryptocurrency market has recently experienced significant turbulence as a result of regulatory bodies’ unwavering determination, as exemplified by the determined stance taken by the chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) toward crypto companies and services.
The recent activities of US regulators that have garnered significant attention, particularly concerning prominent exchanges, are noteworthy. Among these exchanges, Coinbase has also been entangled in a number of legal battles, with the SEC filing multiple lawsuits against the platform. As a result, Coinbase has been forced to defend its position in a number of court cases.
There Seems to Be No End in Sight Yet for Binance’s Issues
According to a recent post by Whale Wire on X (formerly Twitter), the US CFTC has also highlighted the far-reaching implications of the ongoing Binance case.
JUST IN: CFTC says case against Changpeng Zhao and #Binance is just the BEGINNING of aggressive pursuit, and that there are no borders when it comes to prosecuting non-US entities.
The money laundering charges are merely the TIP of the iceberg. There is a lot more they’re going…
— WhaleWire (@WhaleWire) November 24, 2023
According to a recent post by Whale Wire on X (formerly Twitter), the US CFTC has also highlighted the far-reaching implications of the ongoing Binance case. The allegations of money laundering may only be the beginning of legal problems for both the company and its former CEO. The commission now has access to all of the exchange’s records, which could serve as a catalyst for uncovering additional instances of mishandled funds or suspected fraudulent activities. As a result, it is clear that the CFTC is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that non-US entities comply with the country’s regulatory framework.
