U.S. probes possible insider trading at Binance - Bloomberg News

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U.S. probes possible insider trading at Binance - Bloomberg News
https://www.reuters.com/business/us...er-trading-binance-bloomberg-news-2021-09-17/

Sept 17 (Reuters) - U.S. officials are examining possible insider trading and market manipulation at Binance, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, potentially adding more heat to the cryptocurrency exchange that has become a target of regulatory scrutiny in many countries.

Authorities are looking into whether Binance or its staff profited by taking advantage of its customers, Bloomberg reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

"At Binance, we have a zero-tolerance policy for insider trading and a strict ethical code related to any type of behavior that could have a negative impact on our customers or industry," the world's biggest crypto platform said in a statement.

The company has faced warnings and business curbs from financial watchdogs from Britain and Germany to Japan, who are concerned over the use of crypto in money laundering and risks to consumers. read more

The exchange, whose holding company is registered in the Cayman Islands, has scaled back its product offerings and said it wants to improve relations with regulators.

The review involves Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) investigators, who in recent weeks have been reaching out to potential witnesses, the Bloomberg report said, adding that Binance has not been accused of wrongdoing and the investigations may not lead to any official action.

The CFTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
 
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That is so cute. They are trying to flex their muscles in an unregulated market. "Ok CFTC, let us know when you find out this market is unregulated! Have fun investigating."
 
Trader Curt said:
View attachment 268128

That is so cute. They are trying to flex their muscles in an unregulated market. "Ok CFTC, let us know when you find out this market is unregulated! Have fun investigating."
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Well, since the CFTC oversees the futures, and the CME has BTC futures that are based on the BTC reference price, then perhaps they have a vested interest in how Binance's potential malfeasance may have affected the BTC reference price, which affected the BTC futures price.

Just a stab at the dark there on why they may be involved. That's the only connection I can see at the moment.
 
Overnight said:
Well, since the CFTC oversees the futures, and the CME has BTC futures that are based on the BTC reference price, then perhaps they have a vested interest in how Binance's potential malfeasance may have affected the BTC reference price, which affected the BTC futures price.

Just a stab at the dark there on why they may be involved. That's the only connection I can see at the moment.
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It's to see if Binance let "U.S. residents to buy and sell derivatives that the regulator polices."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...inance-investigated-by-u-s-over-who-s-trading
Binance Probed by CFTC Over Whether U.S. Residents Traded
March 12, 2021, 7:00 AM CSTUpdated on March 12, 2021, 3:20 PM CST

  • Agency examines if firm let U.S. residents buy derivatives

  • Digital token platform hasn’t been accused of wrongdoing
Binance Holdings Ltd., the largest cryptocurrency exchange, is being investigated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over concerns that it allowed Americans to place wagers that violated U.S. rules, according to people familiar with the matter.

The CFTC is seeking to determine whether Binance, which isn’t registered with the agency, permitted U.S. residents to buy and sell derivatives that the regulator polices, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the probe is confidential. Binance, which has an office in Singapore but says it lacks a single corporate headquarters, hasn’t been accused of misconduct and the investigation may not lead to an enforcement action.

The scrutiny is the latest sign that market watchdogs may thwart the crypto industry’s ambitions of becoming more mainstream for U.S. investors. The CFTC considers virtual currencies like Bitcoin and Ether to be commodities and claims jurisdiction over their futures and other derivatives. That means crypto platforms face strict customer protection and oversight demands if Americans are trading on them -- regardless of where exchanges are based.

Binanance co-founder Changpeng Zhao said Friday that the company closely follows American rules and has strong controls to prevent its customers from laundering funds. Speaking during an event on the social media platform Clubhouse, he declined to comment on whether the CFTC is investigating Binance.

“We’ll continue to improve our compliance,” Zhao said. “We’ll also work very actively with regulators around the world to improve the compliance standards of the industry.”




CFTC Should Review Crypto Because It's 'Exploding': Baucus



Max Baucus, Binance adviser and former ambassador to China, says it is appropriate that regulatory agencies look into cryptocurrencies. He speaks on “Bloomberg Markets.” (

Source: Bloomberg)

Binance said in an earlier statement Thursday that it blocks U.S. residents from its website and uses advanced technology to analyze deposits and withdrawals for signs of illicit transactions. Binance takes its compliance obligations “very seriously,” the company said. The CFTC declined to comment.

Bitcoin fell after news of the Binance investigation was reported. It was down 1.6% to $56.685.02 as of 4:17 pm New York time.


The investigation adds to the U.S.’s growing crackdown on crypto. The CFTC has already sued BitMEX for failing to register as a broker, with the exchange’s market share declining since it became a target of regulatory scrutiny. Coinbase Global Inc., the U.S.’s biggest crypto exchange, also disclosed last month that it’s responding to a wide-ranging CFTC probe. Investors from around the world have flocked to exchanges like Binance and BitMEX because of the extreme levels of leverage that customers can employ while trading.

Separately, the U.S. Treasury Department is considering new rules that would force banks to record the identities of those who invest in virtual assets. While advocates say the move would crack down on money laundering and other illegal activities, Bitcoin holders argue it would undermine a key draw of cryptocurrencies: the ability to send funds without government oversight.

Read More: Bitcoin Storm Brewing Over Trump’s Anti-Money Laundering Push

An enforcement action against Binance, which has become emblematic of crypto’s meteoric rise, would be the highest-profile CFTC case tied to digital tokens. Zhao, the Binance co-founder who goes by CZ, regularly promotes the asset class on television and social media, saying it has helped make him a billionaire.

U.S. Entity
In 2019, Binance established San Francisco-based Binance.US, which Zhao has said is an independent entity for American customers that is registered with Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and holds several state licenses. Still, he has acknowledged that improper trades may be slipping through the cracks.

“We have always blocked U.S. access, but users do find intelligent ways to get around our block sometimes and we just have to be smarter about the way we block,” he said in a November interview with Bloomberg.

Ex-U.S. Senator Max Baucus, who Binance just tapped to advise it on policy and government relations, said the exchange is assessing whether to register with the CFTC. In a Bloomberg TV interview, Baucus called such a move a “business decision,” while adding that what’s most important to him is that he’s confident the company is already abiding with relevant rules and laws.

Read More: Crypto Giant Binance Weighs Registering With CFTC, Baucus Says

sued Seychelles-based BitMEX in federal court for allegedly letting Americans trade crypto derivatives and not registering with the agency as a brokerage, among misconduct. BitMEX’s founders were separately charged criminally by the Justice Department with violating U.S. laws meant to prevent money laundering, a claim also made by the CFTC.


In a statement after the actions were filed, BitMEX said it strongly disagreed with the accusations and that it has always sought to comply with U.S. laws. One defendant pleaded not guilty, while two others are negotiating with prosecutors to make court appearances. The status of the fourth defendant couldn’t be determined.

Binance’s corporate structure is unusual. Zhao said in an interview this month that the company consists of a number of entities spread around the world. Among those asking questions about the firm’s compliance with rules is Coinbase. In documents recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of a planned initial public offering, Coinbase said it competes with firms with “varying degrees of regulatory adherence, such as Binance.”
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Binance has already done everything to cover their asses. If any US residents trade on there it's because they have successfully tricked the system.

I believe this is just the CFTC trying to make a dramatic statement to the world that they don't just sit on their asses for nothing. Or this could also be a news report by the CFTC to try to move the price. Everyone already knows Binance plays by the rules. Them doing an investigation to see if any US residents traded just sounds silly.
 
terr said:
How? Binance does not allow US accounts. And their KYC enforcement is pretty strict.
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Trader Curt said:
Binance has already done everything to cover their asses. If any US residents trade on there it's because they have successfully tricked the system.

I believe this is just the CFTC trying to make a dramatic statement to the world that they don't just sit on their asses for nothing. Or this could also be a news report by the CFTC to try to move the price. Everyone already knows Binance plays by the rules. Them doing an investigation to see if any US residents traded just sounds silly.
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Binance apparently allows U.S. residents from some states.
https://support.binance.us/hc/en-us...es-That-Binance-US-Does-Not-Currently-Support
  • 4 days ago
Binance.US accounts are NOT available to users residing in the following states:

  • Connecticut
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Louisiana
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Vermont
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And they do (at least as of last April) offer options.
https://www.binance.com/en/blog/421499824684900531/how-to-get-started-with-binance-options
How To Get Started With Binance Options
2020-04-22
...
Binance Options offers access to five options markets:

  1. BTCUSDT

  2. ETHUSDT

  3. XRPUSDT

  4. LINKUSDT

  5. BNBUSDT
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So the CFTC might be interested if they allow U.S. residents to trade these options. I would think the worst that could happen to Binance would be a fine and/or more restrictions on U.S. residents.
 
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