SEC Files Lawsuit Against Binance, Alleging Violations in Crypto Trading

World's Leading Cryptocurrency Exchange Faces Legal Battle Over Regulatory Compliance.

In a significant blow to Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao. The complaint, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., accuses Binance of operating a "web of deception" and lists 13 charges, including artificially inflating trading volumes, diverting customer funds, misleading investors about market surveillance controls, and failing to restrict U.S. customers from its platform.

The SEC alleges that Binance and Zhao secretly controlled customers' assets, allowing them to commingle and divert investor funds at their discretion. The complaint also claims that Binance established separate U.S. entities as part of a scheme to evade U.S. federal securities laws, corroborating investigative reports published by Reuters in recent years.

According to the SEC, from three years ago until June 2022, a trading firm owned and controlled by Zhao, Sigma Chain, engaged in wash trading on the Binance.US platform, artificially inflating the trading volume of crypto asset securities. The SEC revealed that Sigma Chain spent $11 million from an account on a yacht.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler commented, "We allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law." In response, Binance stated that it intends to vigorously defend itself, emphasizing that the SEC's jurisdiction is limited as Binance is not a U.S. exchange.

The news of the lawsuit had an immediate impact on the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, experienced a drop of up to 6%, reaching its lowest level in nearly three months. Binance's native cryptocurrency, BNB, also declined by over 5%. Industry experts predict that the lawsuit's ramifications will extend beyond Binance and could significantly affect the broader crypto industry.

This legal action adds to Binance's existing legal challenges, as the company was previously sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in March for allegedly operating an "illegal" exchange. Additionally, the company is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for suspected money laundering and sanctions violations.

Binance released a statement on Twitter:

Today, the SEC filed civil claims against Binance s in what is the latest example of regulation by enforcement under the current Commission. To be clear, we believe the lawsuit is baseless and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously. However, we want to address what has become an all-too-common occurrence for entities and individuals operating in the American digital assets industry. For nearly two and a half years, Binance has engaged in good faith with the SEC. All along, the objective of our engagement has been consistent: work constructively toward a clear, practical regulatory framework that enables businesses like ours to grow, create jobs, and provide American consumers safe access to digital assets. While we remain open to a productive compromise that protects our customers and their digital assets, with this latest action taken against our business and following similar actions taken against Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, and other market participants, the SEC seeks a near eradication of our industry. Simply put, today’s filing is unjustified by the facts, by the law, or by the Commission’s own precedent. The relief sought by the Commission would harm the very investors the SEC is charged with protecting. It would also stifle innovation and punish our company and industry rather than working to allow American businesses to thrive. We continue to call on Congress to step in and pass bipartisan legislation that creates a workable regulatory regime for digital assets and reins in the bureaucratic overreach of which our industry is the victim. Until then, our country’s role as a leader and innovator will continue to be undermined.

As Binance faces these legal battles, its future remains uncertain. The outcome of the SEC lawsuit will have significant implications for the exchange and may reshape regulatory approaches to the cryptocurrency industry in the United States. Market participants are closely watching the case as it unfolds, awaiting further developments that will shape the landscape of crypto trading and regulation.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. The information provided is based on the knowledge available at the time of writing and may be subject to change as the legal proceedings progress.