“No crypto involved, right?” Binance’s CZ Comments On A High Profile Corruption Case In India

In a bold remark, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) took a dig at Indian crypto regulation. He was replying to a post on X that shared a recent high-profile bribery case involving a senior IRS officer. While the authorities seized substantial assets, including gold, silver, and fiat, CZ humorously suggested that the presence of any cryptocurrency would have automatically made it a ‘crypto case.’

CZ Reacts to CBI’s Seizure of Traditional Assets in Bribery Case

A recent bribery case involving an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer has gained significant attention in the crypto space, especially following Binance founder CZ’s stark comments. In an X post, he stated, “No crypto involved, right? If he had $100 BTC, it would have been a crypto problem.”

Notably, his comment stems from the fact that the CBI’s seized assets included traditional holdings like gold, silver, and cash, but no cryptocurrency. In particular, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confiscated 3.5 kilograms of gold, two kilograms of silver, and about ₹1 crore in cash from the IRS officer, Amit Kumar Singal, who was accused of bribery.

The raid came following the arrest of Singal and his associate in connection with a 25-lakh bribery case. Following the raid, the CBI official stated,

Documents of a locker and 25 bank accounts with various banks; and documents of immovable properties and assets located in Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab. The total value of all movable and immovable assets is yet to be ascertained.

Indian Crypto Regulation: Cautious Approach to Digital Assets

In this context, CZ’s comments draw more attention given India’s ongoing skepticism towards cryptocurrency. India’s crypto sector operates in a regulatory grey area, with taxation in place but no comprehensive laws governing the industry.

Previously, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to ban crypto in India. She stated, “RBI is of the view that cryptocurrencies should be prohibited.” However, earlier this year, she emphasized the need for global cryptocurrency regulations, citing concerns over money laundering and terror financing.

Moreover, in a May 20 hearing, India’s Supreme Court called for setting up clear crypto regulations. Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh stated, “This is a whole parallel economy running with such coins, and it is a danger to the economy of the country.” The judges also pointed out the inconsistency in taxing cryptocurrency at 30% without providing regulatory clarity.

While other crypto-skeptic countries like Pakistan move towards clear crypto regulations, India is likely to adopt a similar approach.