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Binance skirted regulation to become the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. Now, the company will plead guilty to violating anti-money-laundering requirements in the U.S. and agree to pay $4.3 billion in fines. Photo: Benoit Tessier/ReutersThe king of crypto’s largest outlaw empire told employees for years that he would never turn himself in. But on Tuesday, a jittery Changpeng Zhao showed up in a Seattle federal court to plead guilty to violating U.S. money-laundering rules. So this is new to me,” Zhao told a judge.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Zhao, “ I’ve, I’ve, ” Zhao Locations: U.S, Seattle

☆ Binance settlement 'somewhat of a win' for the crypto firm: Swan Bitcoin's head of private clients
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Talia Kaplan | Kaan Oguz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBinance settlement 'somewhat of a win' for the crypto firm: Swan Bitcoin's head of private clientsSteven Lubka, Swan Bitcoin's head of private clients & family offices, weighs in on the multi-billion dollar Binance settlement with U.S. government officials, the SEC's lawsuit against Kraken for allegedly operating an unregistered platform and Bittrex Global's announcement that it is shutting down.

Persons: Swan, Steven Lubka, Kraken

☆ Binance mega-fine fits go-big-or-go-home vibe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Cryptocurrency is a precocious industry, in its lows as well as its highs. So it makes sense that Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, has agreed to pay a $4.3 billion fine for anti-money laundering, effortlessly surpassing penalties paid by miscreant financial firms that have been around for more than a century longer. Binance boss Changpeng Zhao, a kingpin of crypto and the man who precipitated the downfall of bankrupt rival FTX, pleaded personally guilty on Tuesday to criminal violations. HSBC (HSBA.L), (0005.HK) in 2012 agreed to pay $1.9 billion for its role in facilitating drug cartels’ money laundering. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, FTX, Zhao, Binance, Al Qaeda, It’s, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, David Solomon, Sam Bankman, John Foley, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, HSBC, HK, Malaysian, U.S . Treasury Department, Thomson Locations: Iran, North Korea, U.S

☆ Stock Market Today: Index Futures Edge Higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

OpenAI said Sam Altman will return as chief executive of the artificial-intelligence startup, ending a standoff that began when the board fired him last week. Nvidia shares edged down premarket, even after the company reported blockbuster sales of chips used in AI. Broad markets are poised for a quiet pre-Thanksgiving session, with stock-index futures nudging higher. Index futures were muted. Ten-year yields slipped, after settling Tuesday at 4.417%.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Dow Organizations: Nvidia, Dow industrials, Nasdaq, Treasury, Traders, Nikkei Locations: Europe, Shanghai

WASHINGTON (AP) — While the scandals in the cryptocurrency industry seem to never end, Washington policymakers appear to have little interest in pushing through legislation to codify the structure of the industry. The latest shoe to drop is Binance’s multibillion dollar settlement with U.S. authorities and the resignation of its CEO this week. When cryptocurrencies collapsed and a number of companies failed last year, Congress considered multiple approaches for how to regulate the industry in the future. Brown has been highly skeptical of cryptocurrencies as a concept and he’s been generally reluctant to put Congress’ blessing on them through legislation. Yesterday’s development marks the same inflection point that we saw earlier at the intersection of the .com and post-.com eras.”

Persons: Sam Bankman, cryptocurrencies, Janet Yellen, Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, Binance, General Merrick Garland, — Binance, Debbie Stabenow, John Boozman, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Brown, He’s, ” Brown, Fried, can’t, ”, Dennis Kelleher, Yiannis Giokas Organizations: WASHINGTON, Treasury, White, Biden Administration, Binance, U.S . Treasury, U.S, Securities and Exchange Commission, Coinbase, SEC, PayPal, Futures Trading Commission, Agriculture Committee, U.S ., Financial Services, Senate, Consumer, Better, Moody’s Analytics, U.S . Authorities Locations: Washington, United States, Cayman Islands, Ohio, stablecoins, U.S

☆ Binance was slapped with a $4.3 billion fine because it let groups like Hamas and ISIS receive funds: Treasury Department
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The treasury department says the company enabled transactions from Hamas, the Islamic State, and Al Qaeda. The treasury department said Binance failed to report over 100,000 suspicious transactions involving terrorist groups, ransomware, child sexual exploitation material, and scams. Lim had been told about "HAMAS transactions," and responded by saying that terrorists often send "small sums" of money because "large sums constitute money laundering," the CFTC complaint said. Advertisement"I HAZ NO CONFIDENCE IN OUR GEOFENCING," Lim was told by a Binance employee, who was tasked with reporting money laundering, the complaint said. The justice department opened an investigation into Binance's compliance with anti money laundering law in 2018.

Persons: Binance, —, Samuel Lim, Lim, Zhao, Merrick Garland, Richard Teng —, Binanace, Yesha Yadav Organizations: Service, Zhao, Brigades, Hamas, Islamic, Futures Trading, AK, New York Times, Vanderbilt University, Reuters, Futures Trading Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: Islamic State, Al Qaeda, Iraq, Syria

☆ BTC Markets CEO discusses crypto giant Binance and money laundering
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBTC Markets CEO discusses crypto giant Binance and money launderingCaroline Bowler, BTC Markets CEO, discusses the events surrounding Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao's stepping down after pleading guilty to federal criminal charges.

Persons: Caroline Bowler, Changpeng Zhao's Organizations: BTC

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhat's next for Binance after its CEO stepped down and pleaded guilty: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Steven Lubka, Swan Bitcoin's head of private clients & family offices, weighs in on the multi-billion dollar Binance settlement with U.S. government officials.

Persons: explainers, Steven Lubka, Swan Organizations: Binance, CNBC Crypto, CNBC

☆ Morning Bid: AI buzzes but market shrugs at Nvidia beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly before the closing bell as the market takes a significant dip in New York, U.S., February 25, 2020. Remarkably, Nvidia managed to vault the sky-high bar for quarterly earnings, revenue and projections yet again in its latest update overnight. Bond volatility (.MOVE) has also fallen to two-month lows, while currency market 'vol' (.DBCVIX) is plumbing 20-month lows. CONCERN OVER HOME SALES, HOLIDAY SEASON SALESNews of a drop in U.S. existing home sales last month to a 13-year low was perhaps as important as the Fed minutes - as was warnings from more major U.S. retailers, this time Best Buy and Nordstrom, about sticky holiday season sales and the need for discounting. The dollar (.DXY) was a touch higher on Wednesday, meantime, with most overseas stock markets firmer too.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, Mike Dolan, thrall, OpenAI, Sam Altman, Changpeng Zhao, October's, Jeremy Hunt's, underperformed, Jeremy Hunt, Bernadette Baum Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, U.S, Nvidia, Federal, Nordstrom, University of Michigan, Bank of Canada, Treasury, Deere, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson, Reuters Locations: New York, U.S, Gaza, China, yearend, York, Beijing

☆ Asia stocks slip as dovish Fed cheer fades
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But it fell 0.2% in early trade on Wednesday. Nasdaq futures (.IXIC) were down 0.2% and S&P 500 futures fell 0.1% early in the Asia day. They have fallen about 50 basis points since the Fed held rates steady early in the month. It was broadly steady at $1.0921 to the euro and 148.17 yen in early trade on Wednesday. In commodity markets Brent crude futures held just above their 50-day moving average at $82.64 a barrel.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Naka, Rabobank's, Philip Marey, Jonathan Petersen, Michele Bullock, Changpeng Zhao, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Nikkei, Nvidia, Nasdaq, Thursday's, Federal Reserve, Fed, Capital Economics, Bank of Japan, Reuters, Wednesday Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, United States, U.S, Singapore

☆ Morning Bid: Nvidia shares take bumpy ride after hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of NVIDIA as seen at its corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California, in May of 2022. Courtesy NVIDIA/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsA look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. The early focus was on Nvidia (NVDA.O), which in AI tech terms is the only company selling shovels during a gold rush. Volumes were so large and orders so backlogged that the price was - unusually - still moving erratically hours into the Asian day. A Reuters poll showed 10 of 19 economists looked for a rise, while market pricing is leaning against a move.

Persons: Wayne Cole, Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, didn't, Hunt, ECB's Centeno, Elderson, Mester, Macklem, Edmund Klamann Organizations: NVIDIA, Handout, REUTERS, Nvidia, Treasury, Fed Bank of Cleveland, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: Santa Clara , California, Wayne, China, Sweden's

☆ Crypto trading will shift away from unregulated exchanges focused on retail investors: Matrixport
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCrypto trading will shift away from unregulated exchanges focused on retail investors: MatrixportMarkus Thielen of Matrixport says Binance's DOJ settlement "dramatically" increases the probability of a Bitcoin ETF next year.

Persons: Matrixport Markus Thielen, Matrixport Organizations: DOJ

☆ U.S. Case Details Binance’s Knowledge About Criminal Users
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Emily Flitter | More About Emily Flitter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For years, the Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and other senior employees at the cryptocurrency exchange knew that some of its users were criminals. Yet, despite regular warnings from some of its own employees that some transactions on Binance.com were violating anti-money-laundering laws, the firm was reluctant to cut them off. Those allegations, which were made public on Tuesday in a sweeping federal case against Binance and Mr. Zhao, show how thoroughly he and his deputies understood that criminals were using their trading platform — and how little they did to stop them. Mr. Zhao and Binance pleaded guilty on Tuesday to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and agreed to pay hefty fines. The Binance official acknowledged the report, then tried to persuade the tech company’s representatives to downplay Binance’s role in the transactions, according to the filing, which FinCEN posted on its website on Tuesday.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, Binance, FinCEN Organizations: Binance, Network, Treasury Department, FinCEN, Qassam

Just this week, the SEC sued Kraken, another crypto exchange, alleging that it is operating as an unregistered securities exchange. Binance is exiting the US as part of the agreement the crypto exchange made with law enforcement agencies. That also includes the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission , and the Treasury Department. There is even a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team within the Justice Department actively identifying and investigating criminal cases involving digital assets. That is precisely how the feds secured the first ever corporate settlement with a crypto exchange.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Zhao, Binance, Brian Armstrong, Coinbase, ” Armstrong, “, General Merrick Garland, ” Changpeng Zhao, Anthony Kwan, cryptocurrencies, ethereum, Bitcoin, ’, it’s, Ethereum, Treasury Department —, Kraken, Tiffany Hagler, ” Garland, Lisa Monaco, Tuesday’s presser, “ I’ve, Benham Organizations: New, New York CNN, Justice Department, Bloomberg, Getty, Washington DC, US Department of Justice, Department of Justice, Treasury, Securities and Exchange Commission, Treasury Department, SEC, Geard, Futures Trading Commission, Cryptocurrency, feds Locations: New York, United States, Binance, Washington, U.S, “, rulemaking

☆ Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P 500 Open Higher; Nvidia Stock in Focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Major stock indexes ticked higher ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday , while oil prices fell . Nvidia shares slipped a day after it reported blockbuster sales of chips used in AI. Bitcoin prices edged lower after the founder of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, pleaded guilty to violating criminal U.S. anti-money-laundering requirements. Ten-year yields edged higher, after settling Tuesday at 4.417%. Bitcoin prices edged lower.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Dow Organizations: Nvidia, Binance, Dow industrials, Nasdaq, Autodesk, Deere, Treasury, Energy, Nikkei Locations: Europe, Shanghai

☆ Fmr. SEC enforcement chief: There was a lot of 'casualness' in crypto about complying with the law
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFmr. SEC enforcement chief: There was a lot of 'casualness' in crypto about complying with the lawLisa Braganca, former SEC enforcement branch chief, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the criminal probe into Binance after its founder Changpeng Zhao plead guilty to money laundering charges, the implications for the crypto industry at large, and more.

Persons: Lisa Braganca, Changpeng Zhao Organizations: SEC

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia tripled its revenue. Investors weren’t impressed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Nvidia's revenue tripledNvidia's fiscal third-quarter revenue grew 206% year on year to $18.12 billion, handily beating expectations, and net income rocketed from $680 million to $9.24 billion. Moreover, Nvidia expects revenue for the current quarter to increase to $20 billion, an implied 231% growth. Richard Teng, the company's former global head of regional markets, will be Binance's new CEO, said Zhao in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Persons: Colette Kress, CZ, Changpeng Zhao, Richard Teng, Zhao Organizations: CNBC, Nvidia, Federal, Japan's Nikkei, China's, U.S . Department of Justice, Hamas, U.S, Bank of America Locations: China, Asia, Pacific, China's Shanghai, U.S, Israel, Europe

☆ What the Binance settlement means for crypto investors—and why it could clear the path for a bitcoin ETF
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Industry insiders are cheering the end of a "CZ"-led Binance as a necessary move for crypto going forward. Some say it was perhaps even critical for what could be the next big step for the industry: the approval of a bitcoin ETF. Having this settlement behind us could be the final big, big step needed for this ETF." The crypto industry has long sought the creation of a bitcoin ETF (efforts to launch one go back at least a decade). "Binance is globally the major liquidity pool for crypto trading despite losing market share this year," she said.

Persons: Zhao, Binance, –, Franklin Templeton, Michael Rinko, Sam Bankman, Fried, Rinko, Sam Callahan, Callahan, Yesha Yadav Organizations: Industry, Department of Justice, –, Fidelity, Delphi, Securities, Exchange Commission, Binance, CZ, DOJ, Futures Trading Commission, Treasury Department, BlackRock, Invesco, Ark, Vanderbilt University Law School Locations: BlackRock

☆ Binance situation is 'very different' to FTX, academic says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBinance situation is 'very different' to FTX, academic saysCarol Alexander, professor of finance at the University of Sussex Business School, discusses Binance's $4 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, along with the company CEO's decision to step down.

Persons: Carol Alexander Organizations: University of Sussex Business School, U.S . Department of Justice

The plea deals end a years-long investigation into the crypto exchange. Binance holds around $2.8 billion worth of BNB tokens, according to Nansen. Binance remains the world's largest crypto exchange globally, processing billions of dollars in trading volume every year. "This, combined with the likely imminent approval of an ETF based on bitcoin quotes, could positively impact the crypto market in the long term," said Drozdz. Binance has agreed to forfeit $2.5 billion to the government and to pay a fine of $1.8 billion.

Persons: Binance's, Changpeng Zhao, Ben Mcshane, Sportsfile, Nansen, Binance, Grzegorz Drozdz, Bitcoin, Drozdz, Zhao, Yesha Yadav, Milton R, Underwood, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Richard Teng, Teng, Janet Yellen, Al, Yellen Organizations: Getty, Department of Justice, ., SEC, Conotoxia, CNBC, DOJ, Vanderbilt University, Justice Department, U.S, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Binance, Futures Trading Commission, Treasury Department, The Securities, Exchange Commission, ISIS Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Binance, Nansen, U.S, Abu Dhabi

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia’s astounding earnings might not move markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Nvidia's revenue tripledNvidia's fiscal third-quarter revenue grew 206% year on year to $18.12 billion, handily beating expectations, and net income rocketed from $680 million to $9.24 billion. Moreover, Nvidia expects revenue for the current quarter to increase to $20 billion, an implied 231% growth. Fed officials also project economic growth in the fourth quarter to "slow markedly" from last quarter's 4.9% increase in gross domestic product.

Persons: Colette Kress, Binance's CZ, Changpeng Zhao, Richard Teng, Zhao Organizations: CNBC, Nvidia, Federal, Auto, European Union, European Automobile Manufacturers ' Association, Binance's, U.S . Department of Justice, Bank of America Locations: China

☆ Stock Market News Today: Dow, Nasdaq Edge Higher; Nvidia Stock in Focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Major stock indexes continued their November march higher ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday , while oil prices fell . Nvidia shares slipped a day after it reported blockbuster sales of chips used in AI. Bitcoin prices edged higher. Ten-year yields edged higher after settling Tuesday at 4.417%. Bitcoin prices edged higher.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Dow Organizations: Nvidia, Binance, Dow industrials, Nasdaq, Autodesk, Deere, Airlines, Treasury, Energy, Benchmark, Overseas, Nikkei Locations: Europe, Shanghai

☆ How Binance Melted Down in Less Than a Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

How Binance Melted Down in Less Than a YearBinance skirted regulation to become the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. Now, the company will plead guilty to a criminal charge in the U.S. and agree to pay $4.3 billion in fines. Here’s how the same strategy behind the company’s rise brought it crashing down. Photo: Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Persons: Benoit Tessier Locations: U.S

☆ US authorities set to unveil settlement with Binance -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Smartphone with displayed Binance logo and representation of cryptocurrencies are placed on a keyboard in this illustration taken, June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. government authorities are expected to unveil a settlement with Binance Holdings on Tuesday, resolving a years-long investigation into the world's largest crypto exchange, according to a source familiar with the matter. The deal, which will include charges against individuals and resolve allegations of violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and other U.S. laws, involves multiple U.S. agencies: the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the source said. Reporting by Chris PrenticeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Chris Prentice Organizations: REUTERS, Binance Holdings, Justice Department, Futures Trading Commission, Treasury, Network, Thomson

Here’s how the strategy behind Binance’s rise under Changpeng Zhao brought it crashing down. Photo: Benoit Tessier/ReutersThe chief executive of Binance , the largest global cryptocurrency exchange, stepped down and pleaded guilty to violating criminal U.S. anti-money-laundering requirements, in a deal that might preserve the company’s ability to continue operating, according to court documents. Changpeng Zhao appeared in Seattle federal court Tuesday and entered his plea, according to court records. Prosecutors accused Binance, which Zhao owns, of facilitating transactions with sanctioned groups. Binance encouraged U.S. users to obscure their location so the firm could avoid complying with U.S. anti-money-laundering laws, prosecutors said.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, Benoit Tessier, Binance, Zhao Organizations: Binance, Prosecutors Locations: Seattle

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