Prosecutors Split Over Charging Binance, CZ: Report

U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors are divided on whether they should move ahead with filing criminal charges against Binance and its top executives, including CEO Changpeng Zhao, Reuters reported.

According to sources quoted by Reuters, U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors are divided on whether to file criminal charges against Binance and Changpeng Zhao for violating anti-money laundering sanctions. The world’s largest crypto exchange came under investigation in 2018 over its compliance with U.S. anti-money laundering laws and sanctions.

Sufficient evidence against Binance and CZ

According to the report, some federal prosecutors involved in the case believe they have sufficient evidence to move ahead and file criminal charges against individual executives including founder Changpeng Zhao. However, some prosecutors are delaying and taking more time to review the case. Prosecutors of three different justice departments are involved in the inquiry: the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, known as MLARS, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington in Seattle and the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team.

Binance Denies Reuters Reports

Replying swiftly to the Reuters report, Binance denied such reports claiming that they don’t have insights into the workings of the Department of Justice and nor they can confirm if they did. Binance tweeted from its official Twitter account, “Reuters has it wrong again.” The crypto exchange praised the law enforcement team in its response to Reuters saying, “Reuters is attacking our incredible law enforcement team. A team that we’re incredibly proud of – they’ve made crypto more secure for all of us.” Reuters has repeatedly claimed in its reports how Binance kept weak money laundering checks.  Though, Binance CEO has denied any such claims made against it.

Reuters has it wrong again.

Now they’re attacking our incredible law enforcement team. A team that we’re incredibly proud of – they’ve made crypto more secure for all of us.

Here’s the full statement we sent the reporter and a blog about our remarkable law enforcement team.

— Binance (@binance) December 12, 2022

Jai is a Crypto and Blockchain enthusiast with over three years of working with different major media houses. His current role at Coingape includes creating high-impact web stories under tight deadlines. When not working, you’ll find him reading Russian literature or watching some Swedish movie.

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