Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange platform, has made a formal announcement regarding Binance Nigeria Limited, a fraudulent entity. In an official statement released today, Zhao revealed that the crypto platform has issued a cease and desist notice to Nigerian branch.
This development comes after the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a circular over a week ago, highlighting the illegal activities of Binance Nigeria Limited within the country. Taking to Twitter earlier today, Zhao addressed this matter and made the public announcement.
The Clarification
According to recent reports, a spokesperson from the crypto platform has responded to the mentioned circular, clarifying that the entity referred to in the document is not associated with the company. The spokesperson, reportedly, expressed Binance‘s intention to seek further clarification from the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the matter.
Additionally, the spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to collaborating with the SEC in determining the appropriate course of action. Contrarily, despite the crypto exchange platform’s denial of any association with Binance Nigeria Limited, as indicated in the circular issued by the Nigerian SEC, the company finds itself simultaneously entangled in a legal battle with the United States Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).
Notably, the U.S. SEC has levied a total of 13 charges against both Binance entities and Changpeng Zhao. The situation becomes significant as the U.S. SEC’s lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to the crypto exchange platform’s ongoing legal challenges.
The charges filed against the company and its CEO highlight the intensified scrutiny faced by one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. While the aforementioned crypto exchange platform maintains its position of non-affiliation with Binance Nigeria Limited in the Nigerian context, the legal proceedings initiated by the U.S. SEC further underscore the need for the crypto exchange platform to address regulatory concerns and navigate the intricate landscape of international compliance.
Legal Charges Against Binance
Among the charges filed against Binance and Changpeng Zhao, several notable allegations include operating as an unregistered exchange, broker-dealer, and clearing agency, as well as misrepresenting trading controls. The U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) asserts that despite generating $11.6 billion from U.S. customers, the crypto exchange platform and Zhao failed to register as an exchange, broker-dealer, or clearing agency as required by law.
In a recent development on June 17, U.S. Judge Amy Berman Jackson approved an agreement between Binance.US, Binance, and the U.S. SEC. This agreement reportedly led to the dismissal of a previous temporary restraining order that aimed to freeze all assets belonging to Binance.US.
The well-known crypto exchange platform, which operates in approximately 100 countries, established its headquarters in George Town, Cayman Islands, in 2017. Additionally, in 2019, the company registered a subsidiary in Mahe, Seychelles.
As these legal proceedings unfold, the outcomes will likely have far-reaching implications for the crypto exchange platform’s operations, regulatory compliance strategies, and the broader cryptocurrency industry as a whole.
