Binance To Face US DOJ’s Criminal Charges Or Its Just A FUD: Ex-SEC Exec Hints

U.S. SEC recently alleged that Binance and its CEO commingled billions of dollars with customer funds, which was later sent to other company.
By Ashish Kumar
Updated May 16, 2025
Binance Vs US CFTC: Court Deadlines Make Dismissal Difficult Before Looming DOJ Lawsuit

Crypto News: The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange and its executive’s legal troubles seems to be intensifying from here as the U.S. top financial watchdogs decide to go after Binance. However, the former Chief executive of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suggests that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is likely to file criminal charges against Binance.

Also Read: Custodia Bank Case More Important Than Ripple Lawsuit, Says XRP Lawyer

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Binance In Big Trouble?

John Read Stark, ex-head of SEC’s office of internet enforcement, hinted that the U.S. DOJ will fill or has already filed a Binance linked criminal indictment under seal. He mentioned that both CFTC and SEC complaints read more like criminal indictments to him. However, the complaint also alleges the crypto exchange of fraud, deception of law, and money laundering.

As per the U.S. CFTC complaint, Binance’s CEO Changpeng Zhao and three of its executives that operated the crypto exchange allegedly violated the agency’s statutes and regulations. It is important to note that the CFTC charged Binance’s former Chief compliance officer, Samuel Lim for assisting and abetting the exchange’s violations. Read More Crypto News Here

Stark highlighted that the CFTC presented evidence that the former COO was aware of the situation that Binance customers were there for a crime. The watchdog further alleged that the defendants assisted US VIP users in evading Binance’s compliance control.

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DOJ Working With SEC, CFTC?

The U.S. SEC recently alleged that Binance and its CEO commingled billions of dollars with customer funds, which was later secretly sent to a different company controlled by CZ. However, the commission in a memorandum of support has mentioned that it has been widely reported that the world’s largest crypto exchange and CZ are under criminal authorities investigation.

This directs that the commission might be working with criminal prosecutors and the FBI, the former U.S. SEC executive suggests. He claimed that the DOJ is working with CFTC, SEC and several other whistleblowers.

Also Read: Binance CEO Refers SEC’s Chat Evidence In Internal Staff Letter

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Ashish Kumar
Ashish believes in Decentralisation and has a keen interest in evolving Blockchain technology, Cryptocurrency ecosystem, and NFTs. He aims to create awareness around the growing Crypto industry through his writings and analysis. When he is not writing, he is playing video games, watching some thriller movie, or is out for some outdoor sports. Reach me at [email protected]
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