News Centre

Statement of Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson Regarding CFTC’s Landmark Resolution of Charges against Binance and Its CEO and CCO

Date 21/11/2023

Today the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced the filing of a proposed consent order in its litigation against three affiliated entities of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, Binance's founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Changpeng Zhao, and former Binance chief compliance officer (CCO) Samuel Lim. Pending approval by Judge Manish S. Shah of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, this order will resolve the CFTC’s litigation against Binance, Zhao, and Lim filed in March of this year. The Commission’s complaint charged the defendants with offering and executing illegal off-exchange futures, options, and retail commodity transactions; failing to register as a futures commission merchant and a designated contract market or swap execution facility; failing to diligently supervise, including failing to maintain a Customer Identification Program (CIP), know your customer (KYC) procedures, or an anti-money laundering (AML) program; and conducting activities designed to willfully evade requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA) and Commission Regulations.

CFTC: Binance Former Chief Compliance Officer, Samuel Lim, Agrees To Pay $1.5 Million For Willfully Evading U.S. Law, And Aiding And Abetting The Illegal Operation Of A Digital Asset Derivatives Exchange, And Other Violations

Date 21/11/2023

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced former Binance Chief Compliance Officer, Samuel Lim, agreed to a proposed consent order for permanent injunction, civil monetary penalty, and equitable relief that, if entered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, will resolve all charges the CFTC brought against Lim for violating the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and willfully aiding and abetting Binance’s numerous violations of the CEA as detailed in the CFTC filing against Binance today. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8825-23]

Statement Of CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam Regarding Binance And Its Founder

Date 21/11/2023

Good afternoon.  Thank you, Attorney General Garland, Treasury Secretary Yellen, Deputy Attorney General Monaco, and all of our law enforcement counterparts.

Binance And Its CEO, Changpeng Zhao, Agree To Pay $2.85 Billion For Willfully Evading U.S. Law, Illegally Operating A Digital Asset Derivatives Exchange, And Other Violations - Binance And Zhao Also Resolve Charges With DOJ, FinCEN, And OFAC That, In Total With The CFTC, Require Over $4.3 Billion Payment In Monetary Penalties

Date 21/11/2023

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced Changpeng Zhao, and his companies Binance Holdings Limited, Binance Holdings (IE) Limited, and Binance (Services) Holdings Limited (together, Binance) agreed to a proposed consent order for permanent injunction, civil monetary penalty, and equitable relief that, if entered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, will resolve all charges the CFTC brought against Zhao and Binance for knowingly disregarding provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) to profit from their operation of an illegal digital assets derivative exchange.

Intercontinental Exchange Chair & CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher To Present At The Goldman Sachs U.S. Financial Services Conference On December 5

Date 21/11/2023

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, announced today that Jeffrey C. Sprecher, Chair and CEO, will present at the Goldman Sachs U.S. Financial Services Conference. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, December 5 at 1:40 pm ET. The presentation will be available live and in replay via webcast and can be accessed in the investor relations and media section of ICE’s website at http://ir.theice.com/.

U.S. Department Of Justice: Binance And CEO Plead Guilty To Federal Charges In $4B Resolution, Binance Admits It Engaged In Anti-Money Laundering, Unlicensed Money Transmitting, And Sanctions Violations In Largest Corporate Resolution To Include Criminal Charges For An Executive

Date 21/11/2023

Binance Holdings Limited (Binance), the entity that operates the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.com, pleaded guilty today and has agreed to pay over $4 billion to resolve the Justice Department’s investigation into violations related to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), failure to register as a money transmitting business, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Remarks By US Secretary Of The Treasury Janet L. Yellen At Press Conference Announcing New Treasury Action Against Illicit Finance

Date 21/11/2023

Good afternoon. I’m very glad to join Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Monaco, and CFTC Chairman Behnam for such an important occasion.

U.S. Treasury Announces Largest Settlements In History With World’s Largest Virtual Currency Exchange Binance For Violations Of U.S. Anti-Money Laundering And Sanctions Laws

Date 21/11/2023

• FinCEN settlement of $3.4 billion and OFAC settlement of $968 million largest for each 
• IRS – CI investigation leads to Department of Justice action 

U.S. Department of Justice: Cyber Scam Organization Disrupted Through Seizure Of Nearly $9M In Crypto

Date 21/11/2023

The Justice Department announced today the seizure of nearly $9 million worth of Tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar. These seized funds were traced to cryptocurrency addresses allegedly associated with an organization that exploited over 70 victims through romance scams and cryptocurrency confidence scams, which are widely known as “pig butchering.”

Statement Of CFTC Commissioner Caroline D. Pham On Chief Compliance Officer Liability

Date 21/11/2023

his consent order related to Binance is the first time that the CFTC is charging a compliance officer with individual liability.