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BREAKING: Former Binance CEO CZ Behind Bars: Sentenced To Jail For 4 Months

In a significant development for the crypto industry, Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, the founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has been imprisoned for four months. 

The sentencing follows his guilty plea to charges related to enabling money laundering activities within his crypto exchange. The verdict was delivered in Seattle federal court and marks the culmination of US authorities’ multiyear investigation into Binance.

Lighter Sentence For Binance Founder

The sentence handed down to Zhao was notably less severe than the three-year prison term sought by federal prosecutors. In contrast, the defense had requested five months of probation, ultimately given the outcome wanted. 

Under the terms of a settlement reached in November of 2023, Zhao agreed to step down as CEO of Binance, as part of an agreement to resolve the investigation. 

The probe primarily focused on allegations that Binance failed to implement an effective anti-money laundering program, as the Bank Secrecy Act required. 

Regulatory Pressure Mounts 

Zhao was also accused of knowingly allowing Binance to process transactions involving funds derived from unlawful activities, including transactions between US citizens and individuals residing in sanctioned jurisdictions.

As part of the resolution, Binance was ordered to pay an imposing $4.3 billion fines and forfeiture. Additionally, Changpeng Zhao personally agreed to pay a substantial $50 million fine, underscoring the severity of the charges and the commitment to accountability.

The legal challenges for Binance do not end there. The company faces separate lawsuits from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for alleged mishandling of customer assets and operating an illegal, unregistered exchange within the United States. 

Binance

As of this writing, the exchange’s native token, Binance Coin (BNB), is trading at $573, down over 3% in the last 24 hours and 7% in the last seven days. 

Featured image from Bloomberg, chart from TradingView.com 

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BNB Smart Chain Shines In Q1: Triple-Digit Surges In Key Metrics

The Binance Smart Chain (BNB Chain), developed by the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, Binance, experienced significant growth and performance in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024. 

As highlighted in a recent report by Messari, Binance Smart Chain has surged in market cap, revenue, average daily active addresses, decentralized finance (DeFi), total value locked (TVL), and average daily decentralized exchange (DEX) volume. 

BNB Outperforms Bitcoin In Q1 2024

During Q1 2024, BNB Smart Chain demonstrated notable market cap growth, soaring by 89% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ). It reached a market cap of $92.5 billion, securing the third position among all tokens, excluding stablecoins. Only Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC) surpassed BNB in market cap. 

Interestingly, the report notes that BNB’s performance surpassed that of Bitcoin, which saw a 65% increase in outstanding market capitalization over the same period.

BNB

Revenue generated by the Binance Smart Chain experienced a substantial boost in Q1. The network collected $66.8 million in revenue, marking a 70% QoQ increase. 

According to Messari, this surge in revenue was primarily driven by the appreciation of BNB’s price. Notably, Q1’s revenue exceeded that of any quarter in 2023. DeFi transactions, particularly gas fees, were significant in revenue contributions, accounting for 46% of the total.

Despite a slight decrease in average daily transactions, BNB Smart Chain experienced a 27% year-over-year (YoY) increase, demonstrating sustained growth in network activity. 

Average daily active addresses surged by 26% QoQ, reaching 1.3 million. Several protocols on the BNB Smart Chain witnessed increased transaction volumes and active addresses, with Tether’s USDT and decentralized exchange (DEX) PancakeSwap leading the way.

DEX Trading Volume Explodes

BNB Smart Chain’s DeFi TVL, denominated in USD, experienced a 67% QoQ surge, reaching $7.2 billion. This growth positioned the Binance Smart Chain as the third-highest chain regarding DeFi TVL, denominated in USD. 

However, when denominated in BNB, TVL decreased slightly by 12%. This indicates that the surge in USD value was primarily driven by BNB price appreciation and capital inflows.

BNB

Decentralized exchanges on the Binance Smart Chain witnessed a staggering 193% QoQ increase in average daily trading volume. The total DEX volume for Q1 reached $1.1 billion, with PancakeSwap emerging as the dominant DEX on the platform. 

PancakeSwap’s average daily DEX volume surged by 140% QoQ, surpassing other competitors and solidifying its position as the preferred DEX on the BNB Smart Chain.

Overall, Binance Smart Chain’s performance in the first quarter of 2024 showed significant growth across various parameters, reinforcing its position as an important blockchain platform. 

BNB

The exchange’s native token, Binance Coin, is currently trading at $607, reflecting a 2% price increase over the past 24 hours and a 10% increase over the past 7 days. 

These positive price movements bring the token closer to its all-time high of $686, reached in May 2021.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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BNB Price Soars As Binance Smart Chain Implements “BEP 336” Upgrade, Inspired By Ethereum’s Dencun

Binance Smart Chain (BSC), commonly known as BNB Chain, has announced the “BEP 336 upgrade”, inspired by Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade (EIP 4844), which aims to optimize data storage and processing on the blockchain.

The upgrade is expected to significantly reduce transaction costs, improve network performance, and drive the price of Binance Coin (BNB) towards its previous all-time high (ATH) of $686, reached in May 2021.

BNB Smart Chain Cost-Effective Data Solution

According to the protocol’s announcement, BEP 336 introduces an innovative concept called “Blob-Carrying Transactions” (BlobTx) that will change how large data blocks are handled. 

These temporary and cost-effective memory segments, known as blobs, can capture data blocks as large as 128 KB. By streamlining the transaction verification process, the network only needs to verify that the attached blob contains the correct data rather than verifying each transaction within a block.

The introduction of blob transactions within the BSC, which is particularly beneficial for opBNB – the layer 2 network of the BNB ecosystem – offers several advantages. Blobs reduce network space consumption, resulting in lower storage costs and more affordable gas fees for users, similar to Etherem’s Dencun upgrade. This storage strategy allows for efficient data handling while managing blockchain bloat, ensuring data integrity and availability throughout its lifetime on the chain.

BEP 336 also includes two additional components. The Blob Market establishes a fee market for blobs, ensuring regulated storage and transmission costs based on network demand. The Precompile Contract adds a layer of security by verifying that the data in a blob matches the reference in the blob-bearing transaction.

While BEP 336 draws inspiration from Ethereum’s EIP 4844, it is tailored to meet BSC’s unique requirements. Notably, BSC’s design mandates that blobs be managed exclusively by the BSC client, distinguishing it from Ethereum’s approach. Moreover, BSC implements a dynamic gas pricing mechanism for blobs, ensuring reasonable transaction costs with minimum and maximum thresholds.

BEP 336 Integration With Phased Roadmap

BSC has outlined a phased roadmap for the integration of BEP 336. Beginning with the Testnet launch in April, developers can test and interact with the upgrade in a “controlled environment” to address potential issues. 

The subsequent Magnet phase in May will focus on further testing and optimization to ensure the “robustness” and “scalability” of BEP 336. Finally, in June, the mainnet hard fork will mark the official deployment of BEP 336 on the BSC mainnet, ushering in a new era of efficiency and cost-effectiveness for the network.

According to the announcement, the benefits of BEP 336 are expected to impact developers and users within the BSC ecosystem significantly. Gas fees will be reduced considerably as certain data types no longer require permanent storage, making transactions more affordable. 

The temporary storage mechanism will keep the blockchain lean and bloat-free, enhancing overall network performance. With lower costs and improved efficiency, BEP 336 aims to make the BSC ecosystem more accessible to a wider audience, including developers and newcomers to blockchain technology.

BNB

The announcement has boosted Binance Coin’s (BNB) price by over 8%, resulting in a current trading price of $588, just 15% below its all-time high of $686. 

In case of further price gains, the next resistance walls for the BNB price are placed at the $600 level and the $608 mark, which could prevent the token from further price appreciation in its mission to reach its current ATH. 

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Aave Joins Binance’s BNB Chain Ecosystem – Here’s How Users Benefit

In a significant development for the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) ecosystem, Aave (AAVE), one of the largest decentralized finance (DeFi) market protocols, has announced its integration with BNB Smart Chain. Aave joins prominent projects such as Uniswap, Ambit Finance, PancakeSwap, and Lista DAO.

BNB Chain Welcomes Aave

According to the announcement, this latest development opens up new opportunities for BNB Chain users, giving them access to what the protocol calls “top-tier lending platforms” and enhanced liquidity.

With the launch of First Digital USD (FDUSD), users can now leverage “robust” liquidity, allowing them to explore different applications and opportunities in the Binance ecosystem.

BNB

On the other hand, Aave users can now benefit from BNB Chain’s fees and the ability to integrate with one of the largest DeFi ecosystems, fostering increased collaboration between the two communities. The announcement also noted the following about the Aave integration:

This not only complements but strategically aligns with BNB Chain’s 2024 outlook. Focused on mass adoption, high-frequency DeFi applications, and network efficiency improvements, the ecosystem is set for an exciting evolution.

2024 Goals

Looking ahead, BNB Chain has set numerous goals for 2024. The introduction of opBNB – the Layer 2 (L2) scaling solution for the BNB Smart Chain – aims to achieve a transaction processing capacity of 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) by doubling the gas limit to 200 M/s.

Enhanced security measures accompany this increase in capacity through multi-proof mechanisms. In addition, implementing Ethereum’s EIP4844 and Greenfield’s data availability upgrades will reduce gas fees by 5-10 times, providing users with a more cost-effective experience.

In a move called “BNB Chain Fusion,” the BNB Beacon Chain will be merged with the BSC, further enhancing the efficiency and security of the network. The expansion of the number of validators, which will increase from 40 to 100 by 2024, is also expected to contribute to the stability of the network.

Market Cap And Token Holders On The Rise

According to Token Terminal data, the BNB chain has experienced significant growth, evidenced by several key metrics.

One notable metric is the fully diluted market cap, which stands at $75.71 billion, representing a significant increase of 23.9% over the past 30 days, highlighting the confidence in the protocol. 

The circulating market cap, another crucial indicator, currently sits at $54.73 billion, showing a solid 11.6% growth over the same 30-day period. 

BNB

On the other hand, the number of BNB token holders has shown a positive trend, reaching 113.51 million, with a significant increase of 3.5% in the last 30 days, demonstrating interest in the ecosystem.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Binance Sets New Record: Spot Trading Volume Reaches $427 Billion

According to a recent CoinGecko report, Binance, the world’s largest centralized exchange (CEX) by trading volume, has retained its market leadership position in 2023. 

Despite facing increased regulatory scrutiny and undergoing significant leadership changes, Binance maintained a market share of 43.7% and saw its spot trading volume rise to $427.1 billion in December 2023, representing a 37.5% month-on-month (MoM) increase.

Binance Trading Volume Reached $3.8 Trillion In 2023

According to CoinGecko’s report, Binance started the year with a commanding 63.5% market share but experienced a gradual decline throughout 2023, ending with a 43.7% market share in December. 

While Binance still dominated the market with 52.6% of the total spot trading volume in 2023, the exchange’s relative market share decline was notable. In absolute terms, Binance generated $3.8 trillion in trading volume throughout the year.

Binance

As previously reported, Binance faced significant regulatory pressure throughout 2023, culminating in a settlement agreement in November that required the exchange to pay a $4.3 billion fine to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CTFC) for alleged financial breaches. 

As part of the settlement, Binance’s CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), also agreed to step down. Richard Teng has assumed the role of the company’s head, while CZ remains restricted from traveling outside the jurisdiction of the United States as the legal battle unfolds. 

Upbit And OKX Follow Closely

Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, managed to maintain its position as the second-largest centralized exchange in 2023, with a 9.5% market share and $687.0 billion in spot trading volume for the year.

According to the report, Upbit benefited from the Kimchi Premium, which resulted in strong local demand and premium prices for crypto assets. 

The exchange’s monthly spot trading volume hit a yearly high of $90.7 billion in December, with a 93.5% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) increase.

Conversely, OKX secured the third position among centralized exchanges in 2023, with a 6.7% market share and $485.9 billion in trading volume. Throughout the year, OKX experienced a steady increase in market share, starting at 5.1% in January and ending at 8.9% in December. The exchange’s trading volume in Q4 reached $177.9 billion, reflecting a notable 151.6% QoQ gain.

Among the top 10 centralized exchanges, CoinGecko reports that MEXC recorded the highest growth in Q4 2023, with trading volume surging by 203.7% to $90.4 billion. 

Bybit followed closely with a growth rate of 162.1% ($107.5 billion), while KuCoin experienced a growth rate of 161.2% ($49.2 billion). KuCoin regained its spot in the Top 10 in Q4 after briefly losing it in Q3, with a market share of 3.3% at the end of December.

Binance

Binance Coin (BNB) has successfully maintained its position above the $300 threshold, with the current trading price standing at $304. This represents a 1.8% decrease in price over the past 24 hours.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Binance Smart Chain (BSC) Market Cap Hits New Milestone, Registering 48% QoQ Surge

Binance Smart Chain (BSC) has demonstrated notable growth in key metrics during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, as highlighted in a comprehensive report by Messari. 

As the third-largest Layer-1 protocol by market capitalization, BSC experienced positive progress across its financial indicators, signaling a productive quarter for the blockchain ecosystem.

Binance Smart Chain Record-Breaking Transactions

The report reveals that BSC’s market capitalization witnessed a 48% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) surge. This surge reflects renewed interest in BNB (Binance Coin), the native asset of BSC, following two consecutive quarters of decline.

Moreover, BSC’s revenue measured in USD experienced a significant QoQ growth of 27%. This revenue surge, amounting to over $39 million in Q4, indicates increased activity on the protocol and the implementation of various initiatives throughout the year.

Binance Smart Chain

Gas fees burned in BNB, a metric reflecting network activity, also saw a notable QoQ increase of 21%. The rising number of transactions and smart contract interactions contributed to increased gas fees burned, further reinforcing the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem.

In addition to financial metrics, BSC showcased impressive improvements in other areas. The number of active validators increased by 25% QoQ, highlighting growing trust and participation in securing the network. BSC’s commitment to decentralization was evident as the protocol experienced a 54% YoY increase in active validators.

According to Messari, throughout 2023, BSC demonstrated its ability to handle heightened activity while simultaneously reducing costs for users. Daily transactions on the network witnessed a 35% year-over-year (YoY) increase and a 30% QoQ surge, averaging around 4.6 million transactions per day in Q4. 

These spikes in transaction volume were attributed to inscription-related activity, with BSC processing a record-breaking 32 million transactions on December 7, 2023.

BSC’s DeFi Ecosystem Reaches $4.6 Billion TVL

Despite a decline in daily average active addresses and new unique addresses, primarily due to users exploring alternative chains like opBNB, BSC’s on-chain activity remained robust. 

The protocol’s ecosystem of stablecoins, dominated by Tether’s USDT, reached a total value locked (TVL) of $4.6 billion in Q4, showcasing a 33% QoQ increase in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) TVL.

Binance Smart Chain

While Non-Fungible Token (NFT)- related metrics declined in Q4, Binance Smart Chain and Ethereum (ETH) witnessed a resurgence in activity toward the end of the quarter, indicating a potential upward trend in the next market cycle.

Binance Smart Chain

In addition to BSC’s growth, BNB also experienced notable price movements. After a sharp drop, BNB surged from $238 to reach the $338 level. However, it later retraced to $287 following a correction. 

In the past 24 hours, BNB has recorded a growth of 3.7%, pushing its current trading price above $302. 

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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BNB Quarterly Burning: Over 2 Million Tokens Vanish, Valued At $636 Million

In a recent announcement by Binance, the BNB Foundation declared the successful completion of the 26th quarterly Binance Coin token burn through the BNB Chain. The burn, which included Auto-Burn and the Pioneer Burn Program, eliminated a significant amount of the exchange’s native token from circulation. 

BEP95 Initiative Results In 210K BNB Permanently Burned

During this latest burn event, the Auto-Burn process removed 2,141,487.27 BNB from circulation, equivalent to approximately $636 million in USD. 

It is worth noting that the Auto-Burn mechanism operates independently of Binance’s centralized exchange (CEX), providing an auditable and objective process, according to the exchange’s statement. 

Additionally, the Pioneer Burn Program contributed by removing 1542.15 tokens from circulation. This program permanently eliminates an amount of BNB equal to the provable lost funds of eligible users. 

Since the introduction of BEP95, an estimated 210,000 tokens have been permanently burned under this mechanism. As announced, the Pioneer Burn Program helps maintain the integrity of the ecosystem and ensures that lost funds do not influence the circulating supply.

Furthermore, BNB Chain’s Real-Time-Burn mechanism continuously reduces the token supply. This mechanism enables burning a portion of BNB Chain’s gas fees in real-time, further contributing to the ongoing supply reduction efforts.

Completing the 26th quarterly BNB token burn marks another significant milestone for the BNB ecosystem. The independent Auto-Burn mechanism, combined with the Pioneer Burn Program and Real-Time-Burn mechanism, showcases BNB Chain’s approach to reducing token supply and fostering long-term value. 

Robust User Adoption

In addition to its quarterly token burn, BNB has recently displayed notable strength and progress, as revealed by Token Terminal’s on-chain data. 

With a circulating market cap of $47.86 billion, BNB Chain has experienced a 30.45% increase in market capitalization. This surge in value reflects the growing confidence and demand for the token among investors. 

BNB Chain’s financial metrics are equally impressive. The platform has witnessed a revenue growth of 30.47% over the past 30 days, generating $1.72 million in revenue during this period, as seen in the chart below. 

Binance BNB BNBUSDT

Extrapolating this data to an annualized basis, the chain’s revenue is noteworthy at $20.96 million, reflecting solid financial stability and sustainable growth.

The data from Token Terminal also highlights BNB Chain’s increasing user adoption and developer activity. The platform has seen a surge in active daily users, with a 30-day average of 1.42 million, representing a robust 48.6% growth. 

The Binance Coin price performance has been steady, with a 2.14% decrease over the past 24 hours, while showing a positive trend over more extended periods. 

The token recorded a 4.38% increase in the past seven days, and over the past 30 days, it achieved an impressive growth of 30.51%. Furthermore, BNB’s performance over the past 180 days has been significant, with a growth rate of 29.92%.

BNB

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Binance 2023 Report Reveals: 40 Million New Users Added, Total Registered Users Reach 170 Million

In its recently released 2023 review report, Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, showcased significant growth despite facing legal disputes and regulatory scrutiny. 

The report highlighted the evolving crypto market, increasing institutional interest, and the company’s commitment to compliance and user experience.

Binance’s 2023 Review

Despite a volatile year for the market, Binance emphasized that digital asset regulation had taken a direction toward greater clarity and harmonization in some regions. 

The exchange acknowledged the challenges but noted that Web3 adoption and institutional interest continued to grow steadily, demonstrating the industry’s resilience and long-term potential.

Regarding growth within the company, Binance Square, formerly known as Binance Feed, was introduced as a social platform designed to be the central hub for Web3 content. 

According to the report, the platform experienced substantial growth, expanding from 1,200 to 11,000 creators and attracting over 1.6 million active daily users. Binance Square aimed to facilitate conversations and enable users to generate “compelling content,” fostering engagement within the Web3 community.

In October, Binance Futures launched its Copy Trading feature, allowing users to replicate the trading strategies of expert lead traders. This feature provided a monetization avenue for trading experts and added a social aspect to the trading experience of the platform users.

Binance

Furthermore, Binance continued its support of fiat currencies, reaching 69 supported fiat currencies with 30 fiat channels available globally. 

Binance P2P, the peer-to-peer trading platform, expanded the number of supported payment methods to 970 and fiat currencies to 112. The report highlights that the platform facilitated 18% more trades with 39% more users than the previous year.

The report further noted Binance’s commitment to compliance, with a significant investment of $213 million in its compliance program, a 35% increase from the previous year. 

Binance allocated substantial resources to develop in-house compliance tools, including a case management system and an internal transaction monitoring engine. 

Is Binance Leading The Way In Crypto Venture Funding?

Per the report, in 2023, Binance focused on enhancing user experience by partnering with localized KYC (know-your-customer) vendors and implementing various electronic ID (eID) solutions globally. 

The exchange added support for 298 new ID and proof-of-address documents across 64 countries, streamlining the onboarding process for users.

To make Web3 “more accessible,” the report notes that Binance launched its Web3 Wallet, which aims to provide a “secure” gateway into the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). The platform aimed to address usability barriers and attract new users by offering improved product and user experience across DeFi, blockchain gaming, and SocialFi.

Ultimately, while the crypto venture funding market faced challenges in 2023, Binance Labs emerged as one of the most active participants in the crypto venture capital (VC) space, particularly in the DeFi and Web3 gaming sectors, according to the exchange.

Overall, Binance’s 2023 Review Report highlights the company’s focus on compliance, user experience, and expanding Web3 offerings as key to continued growth despite ongoing legal issues and regulatory enforcement actions.

Binance

As of the current update, Binance Coin (BNB) demonstrates a significant upward trend in price action, surging to $330. This surge represents a 21% increase over the past seven days.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Binance Coin (BNB) Blazes Ahead: Predictions Point To New All-Time Highs In First Half Of 2024

Binance Coin (BNB), despite experiencing a significant decline earlier this year due to market volatility and the SEC lawsuit against Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), has shown remarkable recovery and promising prospects. 

Recent data indicates a resurgence in the BNB price, driven by the growing usage of decentralized applications (DApps) on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). 

Additionally, BNB’s fundamentals, including impressive market cap figures and increased revenue, further contribute to the positive momentum. 

BNB Price Rally Fueled By DApp Adoption? 

After witnessing a sharp decline from its yearly high of $350, BNB experienced a drop to the $203 level following the SEC lawsuit against Binance and CZ. However, recent price movements show signs of recovery and bullish sentiment. 

Over the past 24 hours, BNB has gained 4.5%, and its performance in the seven, fourteen, and thirty-day time frames demonstrates an upward trend, with gains of 20%, 24%, and 38%, respectively.

One of the driving factors behind BNB’s price rally is the increasing use of DApps on the Binance Smart Chain. Data from DappRadar reveals a surge in DApp volume, currently at $4.83 billion, representing a 12% increase. 

The BNB chain boasts an ecosystem of 5,120 DApps and has recorded 4.89 million transactions, reflecting a 12.73% surge in the past seven days. These figures indicate a growing demand for BNB as it serves as the primary token within the BSC ecosystem.

BNB

Comparing BNB to Ethereum (ETH), DappRadar data highlights BNB’s superior performance in various indicators such as contracts, total unique active wallets (UAW), decentralized finance (DeFi) total value locked (TVL), and non-fungible token (NFT) volume. 

The BNB chain has held the top position over the past 24 hours, showcasing its usage and adoption. This outperformance contributes to the positive market sentiment surrounding BNB and bolsters its price.

Binance Coin Market Cap Surges To $48 Billion

Further boosting the Binance Coin prospects, Token Terminal data reveals impressive market cap figures for BNB, with a circulating market cap of $48.02 billion, marking a 14.18% increase. 

Additionally, BNB’s fully diluted market cap stands at the same value, reflecting a 28.32% growth. The revenue generated by BNB in the past 30 days has increased by 28.51%, reaching $1.47 million. 

Furthermore, BNB has recorded significant fee growth, with a 27.98% fee increase over the past 30 days and an annualized revenue of $187.56 million. These fundamentals contribute to the positive sentiment surrounding BNB.

Overall, Binance Coin has staged a strong recovery, demonstrating a notable price rally driven by the increasing usage of DApps on the Binance Smart Chain. However, there is a bold prediction by a crypto analyst that could further boost the sentiment and excitement surrounding the token.

Binance Coin To Reach New Yearly High? 

According to Captain Faibik, a prominent crypto analyst on X (formerly Twitter), Binance Coin is poised to achieve a new yearly high in the first half of 2024. 

This prediction is based on an analysis of BNB’s 1-week chart, revealing a breakout from a descending triangle pattern, signaling the end of the macro downtrend and initiating a new uptrend phase for BNB.

Looking at the chart below, Faibik suggests that BNB’s price could potentially experience an impressive uptrend of 171% in the initial weeks of 2024. This surge would propel the token’s price above the current all-time high (ATH) of $686. 

BNB

However, several resistance levels must be overcome for this projection to materialize. Notably, at the current trading price of $307, BNB faces a significant seven-month resistance barrier, which currently hinders its ascent to the $314 level, the next resistance level in the near term. 

Analyzing the 1-day chart, it becomes evident that reaching the all-time high level would require surpassing additional macro resistance levels, including $329, $402, $450, $563, $607, $639, and $653.

While the theory proposed by Faibik holds promise, the actual realization of Binance Coin’s new yearly high in the early months of 2024, along with a sustained uptrend, remains to be observed. 

BNB

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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BNB Price Faces Critical Juncture: Head-And-Shoulders Breakout Or Bearish Dip Below $200?

The Binance Coin (BNB) price is crucial as market analysts offer differing viewpoints on the cryptocurrency’s potential direction. While one analyst presents a bullish case, anticipating a breakout and surge beyond $300, another raises concerns about a dip below $200.

BNB Price Analysis

Crypto analyst Ali Martinez suggests that BNB price could be on the verge of breaking out of a head-and-shoulders pattern. 

Martinez emphasizes the significance of a sustained close above $261, which could catalyze BNB’s upward trajectory toward $310. With a 2.9% gain over the past 24 hours and a 12% uptrend in the last fourteen days, the recent price action aligns with Martinez’s breakout thesis.

BNB Price

Martinez analyzes the 1-day chart and identifies the $257 level as a crucial breakout point, signaling a potential shift in trend. 

If the sustained uptrend continues, BNB’s price could see a substantial 19.8% gain shortly, pushing the price toward $310. This projection remains just below BNB’s yearly high of $350 in April.

However, contrasting this bullish outlook, Daan de Rover, a crypto analyst, and YouTuber, highlights BNB’s downtrend structure in the 1-week chart. 

Bearish Outlook For Binance Coin

According to de Rover, the current BNB price action “looks weak,” raising concerns about the currency’s possible continuation of its downward trajectory, which began earlier this year. 

The analyst points to the “green box” on the 1-week chart, as seen in the graphic below, as a critical support level. If breached, it could lead to a deeper decline for BNB, falling below the $200 mark.

BNB Price

De Rover’s cautious view is further emphasized by the fact that dropping below $200 would mark a level not breached since the bear market and crypto winter. 

BNB Chain Records Positive Growth 

According to Token Terminal data, the circulating market cap of BNB stands at $39.83 billion, with a slight decrease of 1.56% observed. However, it is important to note that the fully diluted market cap remains the same at $39.83 billion, indicating a stable valuation for the cryptocurrency. 

BNB has witnessed a positive revenue trend, with a 30.37% increase in annualized revenue, reaching $16.46 million. The 30-day revenue figure also shows growth at $1.35 million, representing a 21.33% increase.

When assessing profitability ratios, the price-to-fully-diluted ratio (P/F) currently stands at 281.75x, indicating the market’s confidence in BNB’s potential. While there has been a slight decline of 18.2% in this ratio, it remains relatively high. 

The price-to-sales ratio (P/S) is also noteworthy, reaching 2,962.98x, although it has experienced a decline of 18.5%.

BNB Chain has seen a positive trend regarding fees generated, with a 30-day increase of 20.92% to $14.22 million. The annualized fees have grown substantially, reaching $173.07 million, a significant 30.15% increase. 

The future trajectory of the BNB price and its underlying blockchain remains uncertain. Whether the cryptocurrency will experience continued growth or succumb to a bearish sentiment is yet to be determined.

BNB Price

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Binance Compliance Officer Under Scrutiny For FTX, Gemini, And Sex Trafficker Associations

In a recent investigative report by the media outlet Unlimited Hangout, serious allegations were made against Noah Perlman, the chief compliance officer of Binance. 

The report highlights Perlman’s alleged ties to the collapse of FTX, the troubled Gemini exchange owned by the Winklevoss twins, and even convicted and deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

If the allegations made by the media outlet prove true, and Perlman is investigated by US authorities, Binance could find itself embroiled in another executive scandal following the departure of former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ).

Associations With Epstein And Alleged Fraud 

Unlimited Hangout alleges that Perlman’s father, Itzhak Perlman, a renowned violinist, had flown on multiple occasions on a plane owned by Jeffrey Epstein. Itzhak Perlman also reportedly accompanied Epstein to Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts, where Epstein later built a lodge for him, which was later described as a “lair to target girls.” 

While Noah Perlman served as a federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice’s Special Coordinator for Crimes against Children, these family connections to Epstein raise questions about his associations.

After leaving the Department of Justice, Perlman joined Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange owned by the Winklevoss Twins, as the chief compliance officer. Although Perlman had left Gemini months before the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the exchange, he had been allegedly “heavily involved” in Gemini’s Earn program, which became the focus of the alleged $1.1 billion fraud. 

As reported by NewsBTC, the lawsuit alleges that certain individuals knew that the program’s partner, Genesis, was financially unstable and withdrew their funds before its collapse.

Per the report, Perlman held the position of chief operating officer at the time, raising suspicions about his role in the alleged misconduct.

Troubled Bank’s Links To Binance Officer And FTX

Perlman’s involvement with Farmington State Bank, later renamed Moonstone, adds another layer of complexity to the alleged wrongdoing cited by Unlimited Hangout.

According to the report, in 2019, Perlman was listed as a director of FBH Corp., the entity that took over the rural bank. Moonstone Bank later garnered attention when Alameda Research, linked to FTX, acquired an $11.5 million stake. 

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former chief of FTX, also reportedly invested $50 million in the bank. However, Moonstone Bank faced regulatory challenges, with the Federal Reserve initiating an enforcement action against it shortly before the Bank of Eastern Oregon acquired its deposits and assets.

Overall, Perlman is at the center of serious allegations concerning his alleged connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the failed Earn program at Gemini, and Moonstone Bank. 

However, it is important to note that these allegations have not been substantiated by any investigations or official connections made by US authorities or other global agencies. 

The claims and allegations put forth by media news outlets require further response from Binance’s executives and investigation by relevant authorities.

There has been no official statement from Perlman regarding these allegations. It remains to be seen how the exchange and Perlman himself will address these claims and provide clarity on the matter.

Binance

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Crypto Expert’s Picks: 5 Cryptos To Buy, HODL, Or Sell Now

Renowned crypto expert and Forbes’ Director of Digital Asset Research, Steven Ehrlich, has provided insights on five prominent cryptocurrencies in the current market landscape.

Solana Shakes Off Setbacks, Positioned As Top Crypto To Buy

Bitcoin BTC), the most prominent cryptocurrency, has experienced a remarkable 120% surge in 2023. After a long wait for Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval of a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), recent developments indicate that a Spot Bitcoin ETF could finally get the green light by January, as many in the crypto community have predicted, according to Ehrlich.

Introducing Bitcoin ETFs is anticipated to generate significant demand from mainstream investors, contributing to a potentially bullish environment. Furthermore, the impending fourth halving event in April, which reduces block rewards and slows down supply, adds to the positive outlook for Bitcoin.

While Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency, has demonstrated substantial growth historically, its performance this year has been comparatively modest, with a 65% increase. 

Crypto

Concerns about regulatory ambiguity in the United States, particularly as it relates to tokens like Ethereum, have dampened investor confidence. In addition, despite a major upgrade aimed at improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption, Ethereum’s growth in key metrics, such as transactions per second and active users, has been underwhelming; for these reasons, Ehrlich believes investors need to hold ETH tokens.

Solana (SOL), on the other hand, often referred to as the “Ethereum killer,” suffered setbacks following the collapse of FTX in 2022. However, the stigma surrounding Solana has dissipated, leading to an impressive 313% gain this year. 

According to Ehrlich, Solana stands out for its “robust technology,” capable of processing thousands of transactions per second and potentially reaching 50,000 transactions per second. As such, Ehrlich believes this is a buy signal for SOL.

Binance Coin At Crossroads

Binance’s native token, BNB, experienced significant growth, reaching a peak value of $100 billion. However, recent developments, including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s guilty plea, substantial fines, and his decision to step down as CEO, have instigated a decline in BNB’s value. 

While BNB’s utility within the Binance ecosystem and rebate mechanisms for traders may provide some support, concerns arise if traders abandon the exchange en masse. 

Given these developments, BNB’s future remains uncertain, and Ehrlich believes that BNB could fall even further, stating that investors should consider selling the token.

Crypto

Blur, a marketplace focused on non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has emerged as a strong contender in the NFT market. As the largest marketplace for Ethereum-based collections, Blur rewards users with its native token, BLUR, based on trading volume and provides voting rights for platform governance. 

While NFT trading experienced a slump this year, recent signs of recovery, along with notable brands such as Disney and Nike embracing NFTs, indicate a potential rebound. However, Ehrlich believes investors should exercise caution due to the risk of unexpected token airdrops flooding the market.

Overall, Bitcoin’s forthcoming spot ETF and halving event, Ethereum’s regulatory challenges, Solana’s technological prowess, BNB’s uncertain future, and Blur’s position within the crypto NFT market are all factors that warrant consideration. 

It remains to be seen how these cryptocurrencies will react to further developments, and what will be the impacts on their price actions for the last part of the year. 

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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BNB Plummets 10% Amid Binance’s $4.3 Billion Settlement And CEO’s Impending Resignation

Binance Coin (BNB), the native token of the Binance cryptocurrency exchange, has experienced a sharp decline of 10% following reports that Binance is preparing to settle criminal charges with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) through a $4.3 billion fine. 

Binance CEO To Plead Guilty

The Wall Street Journal has disclosed that Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), commonly known as CZ, will plead guilty to violating criminal anti-money laundering requirements. 

Concurrently, Binance will also plead guilty to a criminal charge related to anti-money laundering violations, resulting in a significant fine. Furthermore, CZ is expected to step down as CEO, with Richard Teng being considered as a potential successor.

Changpeng Zhao is scheduled to appear before a federal court in Seattle to enter his guilty plea. This crucial legal step can further impact BNB’s price action as investors assess the implications of CZ’s admission of guilt regarding violating anti-money laundering requirements. 

The reported settlement involves Binance pleading guilty to a criminal charge related to anti-money laundering violations, leading to a hefty $4.3 billion fine. This substantial sum encompasses payments to settle civil allegations made by regulators. 

These developments occur in an increasingly stringent regulatory environment in the cryptocurrency industry. The recent charges brought by the SEC against Kraken further highlight the regulatory scrutiny faced by industry players. 

Additionally, market participants anticipate significant enforcement actions by the DOJ, which adds to the atmosphere of uncertainty and apprehension.

Will CZ’s Statement Halt BNB Downtrend? 

Despite the shocking revelation surrounding Binance’s leadership and its impact on the crypto community, there may still be hopes for a potential recovery of Binance Coin and the overall crypto market as the case reaches its conclusion.

With CZ reaching a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and pleading guilty to criminal charges, the exchange can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that regulatory agencies have addressed their concerns and potential legal action.

Furthermore, this settlement could be seen as a victory for regulators, particularly in light of the ongoing legal battles between the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs, which involve the cryptocurrency XRP. 

A favorable outcome in these cases could potentially boost confidence in the broader crypto industry and drive prices higher.

BNB

Currently, BNB is trading at $240, showing signs of recovery from its recent drop, which briefly touched $235 but managed to stay above the critical support level of $232. 

In further declines, BNB bulls will need to hold the support levels at $228, $217, and $214 to prevent the token from dropping below the critical level of $200.

However, suppose Changpeng Zhao and the new Binance CEO can provide a statement that reassures the community and instills a sense of calm. In that case, it may bring a renewed positive sentiment and potentially halt the current downtrend for BNB.

The unfolding of the situation, the next steps for the exchange, and CZ’s fate remain to be seen. The community and market participants eagerly await further developments and announcements shaping the future of Binance and its native token, BNB.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Conflux Protocol Shuts Down This Key Feature After 2 Years

After over two years of operation and maintenance by the Conflux Foundation, ShuttleFlow, a multi-asset bridge built on Conflux, is set to shut down. 

Per the announcement, the platform was pivotal in driving progress within the decentralized finance (DeFi) arena, enabling “seamless” asset transfers across various chains. 

Conflux Foundation Passes The Torch

ShuttleFlow emerged as one of the advanced multi-chain asset bridges in the DeFi space. Its architecture facilitated interoperability between different blockchains, opening up new user possibilities. 

Notably, ShuttleFlow enabled “effortless swaps” between external blockchains such as Ethereum (ETH) and Binance (BNB), utilizing Conflux as the transit chain. With the decision to shut down ShuttleFlow, the Conflux Foundation has entrusted cryptocurrency hub company Zero Gravity with the responsibility of maintaining and further developing the technology stack.

According to Monday’s announcement, Zero Gravity will continue to enhance the Bridge’s capabilities to ensure a “seamless and secure” experience for users within the expanding multi-chain ecosystem.

Furthermore, the Conflux Foundation assures users that their funds are secure throughout the transition. All user funds will be migrated from ShuttleFlow to Zero Gravity, safeguarding their assets. 

Users who have previously bridged assets through ShuttleFlow and successfully claimed them on the destination chain will not be required to undertake any additional actions for the migration.

ShuttleFlow will continue to assist users in claiming assets on the destination chain even after the bridging service is shut down. Users can locate their unclaimed assets on the ShuttleFlow history page.

ShuttleFlow Service Ends

The ShuttleFlow website and decentralized app (dApp) will continue to operate with limited functionality until January 6, 2024. However, the bridging service through ShuttleFlow’s dApp will cease on November 6, 2023. Once ShuttleFlow fully shuts down, users can bridge their assets through Zero Gravity’s official dApp.

The Conflux Foundation firmly believes that the decentralization and accumulation of infrastructure partners are crucial for the growth of its ecosystem. With Zero Gravity taking the reins, ShuttleFlow’s vision of enabling chain-agnostic asset flows to and from the Conflux Network will persist.

Conflux

In light of these developments, the protocol’s token, CFX, currently ranked among the top 80 largest cryptocurrencies in the ecosystem, has experienced a retracement of over 2.9% in the past 24 hours, trading at $0,1619. 

Nevertheless, the token retains significant gains of 277% in the year-to-date period, demonstrating its remarkable growth over the past year.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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BNB Chain Q3 Revenue Takes A Hit: Fees Plummet By 40%

In a recent report by Messari, the analysis sheds light on the developments and challenges faced by Binance Chain (BNB), the blockchain created by Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange regarding trading volume. 

The report highlights the separation of BNB Chain from Binance and various events and allegations that have impacted Binance and its associated entities throughout the third quarter of 2023.

Binance Chain Separation And Challenges

The Messari report emphasizes that BNB Chain has distinguished itself as an independent entity separate from Binance despite its origins as a product of the largest centralized cryptocurrency exchange. However, the market has not fully recognized this separation, leading to a lack of distinction between BNB Chain and Binance.

During the third quarter, Binance encountered numerous challenges, including losing partnerships, shutting down lines of business, conducting layoffs, and facing accusations of violating sanctions. 

BNB Chain

These events coincided with a downward pressure on the value of BNB, which experienced a 25% decline compared to the previous quarter. In contrast, the cryptocurrency market dropped by 9% during the same period.

The Messari report mentions that Binance, including its subsidiary Binance.US, was accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of engaging in unregistered offers and sales of “crypto securities”, including BNB. 

These allegations further added to the challenges faced by Binance and its associated entities during the third quarter.

BNB Chain Performance And On-chain Activity

Despite the challenges, BNB maintained its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, with a market cap of $35.3 billion. The circulating supply of BNB decreased by 1.3% in the third quarter due to the token-burning mechanism employed by BNB Chain.

The report also highlights the impact of adverse events on BNB Chain’s on-chain activity. BNB Smart Chain’s revenue, measured in BNB, fell in line with the decline in BNB’s market cap, indicating a decrease in activity on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). Daily transactions (-14%) and average fees (-12) in BNB also experienced declines during this period.

BNB Chain offers staking opportunities for cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum (ETH), BNB, Cardano (ADA), and others. The report notes that the total stake and eligible supply declined by 3% and 2%, respectively, while the average annualized staking yield decreased from 2.6% to 2.1% during the third quarter.

BNB Chain

The DeFi sector on the BNB Chain demonstrated strength compared to other sectors. The NFT space experienced increased secondary sales volume, unique buyers, and sellers. 

However, stablecoin transfers and GameFi experienced declines in volume. The report suggests that newer applications on BSC may have influenced the growth of unique buyers and sellers in the NFT sector.

Ultimately, the Messari report provides insights into the separation of BNB Chain from Binance and the challenges faced by Binance and its associated entities during the third quarter of 2023. 

Despite these challenges, BNB Chain maintained its market capitalization and continued to launch new products and implement technical upgrades. The report highlights the need for market recognition of the separation between BNB Chain and Binance and the impact of adverse events on BNB Chain’s on-chain activity.

BNB Chain

On the other hand, BNB has experienced a prolonged downtrend since reaching its annual peak of $350 in April. Subsequently, the token plummeted to $202 on October 9. 

However, recent developments have resulted in a positive trend, with BNB recording a profit of 5.2% in the past 14 days and 1.8% in the last 30 days. As a result, the current trading price of BNB stands at $223.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Binance Founder CZ’s Fortunes Plummet By $12 Billion Amidst Downturn in Crypto Trading

Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ and the founder of Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has suffered a significant blow to his fortune. According to a recent Bloomberg report, CZ’s wealth plummeted by $12 billion due to the ongoing slump in crypto-trading activities. 

Per the report, this decline was primarily attributed to a sharp drop in trading volumes at Binance throughout the year.

CZ’s Financial Losses

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index revised its revenue estimates for Binance, slashing it by 38% after data revealed a decline in trading volumes at the exchange. As a result, CZ’s net worth now stands at $17.2 billion, marking a significant reduction from his previous valuation.

According to Bloomberg, CZ’s involvement in recent events that led to the bankruptcy filing of FTX further impacted his financial situation. In November, CZ announced the liquidation of a token linked to FTX (FTT) after reports emerged that Alameda Research, the hedge fund owned by Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, held a large position in it. 

The announcement triggered a rush among FTX customers to withdraw funds, overwhelming the exchange’s infrastructure. As a consequence, FTX declared bankruptcy within a week, erasing Bankman-Fried’s fortune, which had peaked at $26 billion in March the previous year.

To estimate Binance’s revenue, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index relies on spot and derivatives trading data from crypto-tracking services Coingecko and Coinpaprika. 

Binance had witnessed a significant gain in market share earlier this year, reaching 62% of total on-exchange crypto trades during the first quarter. However, after a promotional zero-fee period for popular trading pairs ended, Binance’s market share slid to 51% by the end of the third quarter, as reported by research firm CCData.

Binance Value Plunges As Lawsuits And Allegations Take A Toll

Binance has also faced increasing regulatory scrutiny, isolating itself from the traditional financial system. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Binance in June, accusing the exchange of violating regulations. 

Earlier this year, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) also took legal action against Binance for non-compliance with rules that allowed US users to access the platform. 

Allegations against Binance include inadequate money-laundering controls, inflated trading volumes, and mishandling of client assets. Binance has strongly disputed these claims and is currently contesting them in court. 

In June, Bloomberg’s wealth index reduced the value of Binance’s US exchange to zero after it announced the discontinuation of dollar transactions, resulting in a significant decline in trading volumes. 

Binance.US had previously been valued at $4.7 billion during a funding round in March 2022, while CZ’s net worth peaked at $96 billion in January.

The challenges faced by Binance are not unique, as regulatory uncertainties and rising interest rates have made alternative investments more appealing. Coinbase Global, another leading cryptocurrency exchange, experienced a 52% decline in spot trading volume in the third quarter compared to the previous year, according to Bloomberg. 

Binance

Despite the personal wealth challenges CZ faces, Binance Coin (BNB) has capitalized on the overall market recovery, showcasing substantial gains across various time frames. Currently, the token is trading at $225.2, maintaining its upward trend with a 2.2% increase over the past 24 hours.

Furthermore, BNB has demonstrated significant gains of 5.8%, 9.6%, and 6.1% over the seven, fourteen, and thirty-day time frames, respectively. These positive trends highlight the token’s strong performance in recent weeks.

Featured image from Binance, chart from TradingView.com 

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Binance And Tether Accused By Lawmakers: DOJ Investigation Requested For Illicit Finance

In a recent development, US lawmakers have urged the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to initiate a criminal investigation into cryptocurrency exchange Binance (BNB) and stablecoin issuer Tether (USDT). 

The lawmakers, led by Senator Cynthia Lummis, reference a controversial Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report that alleges Hamas and its affiliate raised significant funds through cryptocurrencies. 

Binance And Tether Face Calls For Criminal Charges

In a joint letter signed by Senator Lummis and Representative French Hill, the lawmakers express deep concern over reports indicating that “unregulated crypto intermediaries” outside the United States have allegedly facilitated illicit financial activities, including financing terrorism, such as Hamas’s attacks on Israel.

Lummis and Hill urged the DOJ to promptly reach a charging decision regarding Binance, considering the extent of its involvement, and to conclude the ongoing investigation into Tether’s alleged illicit activities.

The lawmakers refer to the WSJ report of October 10, 2023, which disclosed that Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah had received cryptocurrency funding since August 2021. They stress the DOJ’s need to hold any entities facilitating illicit activities accountable. The letter further reads: 

We believe that it’s imperative that the Department of Justice hold bad actors accountable if they are shown to facilitate illicit activity. Binance, notably, is an unregulated crypto asset exchange based in the Seychelles and Cayman Islands. Binance has historically been linked to illicit activity and is purportedly the subject of a current Department of Justice investigation.

On the other hand, Tether faced a fine by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in 2021 for issues related to backing its stablecoin USDT. 

The lawmakers urged the DOJ to thoroughly assess whether Binance and Tether have provided material support and resources for terrorism by violating applicable sanctions laws and the Bank Secrecy Act. Lummis and Hill emphasize the importance of swift action to cut off funding sources for terrorists targeting Israel.

Tether Counters Allegations

In response to Senator Lummis and Rep. Hill’s claims, Tether issued a statement addressing the “misinformation” surrounding the potential misuse of cryptocurrencies. 

Tether references independent investigations by Chainalysis and Elliptic, which found significant errors and faulty attribution techniques in reports, including the WSJ’s article. 

Tether emphasizes its commitment to regulatory compliance, due diligence, and global collaboration with law enforcement agencies. They highlight their track record of freezing assets tied to illicit activities and assert no evidence of sanctions law or Bank Secrecy Act violations.

Tether further notes the inherent transparency of blockchain technology and the proactive measures taken by virtual asset service providers to monitor and report potentially illicit activities. 

They reaffirm their dedication to transparency, compliance, and collaboration with authorities, inviting constructive dialogue and cooperation.

As the call for a DOJ investigation unfolds, the cryptocurrency community awaits further developments and the potential impact on Binance and Tether’s operations.

Binance

As of this writing, BNB is trading at $221, representing a decrease of 0.9% within the last 24 hours. However, it is worth noting that the token has experienced significant gains over the past seven and thirty days, amounting to 5.3% and 4.9%, respectively.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Binance Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged ICO Missteps And Token Distribution Discrepancies

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is currently grappling with challenges that have raised concerns about its credibility and market performance. 

Recent reports by Forbes shed light on Binance’s initial coin offering (ICO) and the subsequent distribution of its native cryptocurrency, Binance Coin (BNB). 

Behind The Curtain

The investigation reveals allegations of undisclosed token retention, discrepancies in the ICO process, and the accumulation of a significant token reserve by Binance. 

Per the report, in June 2017, Binance initiated its ICO, aiming to raise $15 million by selling 100 million BNB tokens. However, the Forbes investigation, conducted with the assistance of crypto forensic firms, suggests that only around 10.78 million BNB tokens were transferred to investors during the ICO. 

An additional 20 million tokens were “quietly” allocated to angel investors, doubling their initial allocation to 40 million tokens. Consequently, according to Forbes, Binance likely raised less than $5 million during the ICO, contrary to the $15 million claimed by founder Changpeng Zhao. 

The Forbes report indicates that Binance’s white paper did not disclose the company’s plans for unsold tokens in the event of an undersold ICO. While it is not illegal for issuers to retain unsold tokens, transparency is crucial in such cases, Forbes alleges. 

Binance founders and insiders reportedly ended up with 145 million BNB tokens instead of the originally planned 80 million. These tokens, initially valued at less than $10 million, are now estimated to be worth approximately $14 billion.

Furthermore, Binance implemented a token buyback and burn program to reduce the total supply of BNB tokens over time. 

According to Binance’s website, approximately 48 million tokens have been burned as of August 31, 2023. However, Forbes suggests that Binance controls nearly 117 million tokens, accounting for 76% of the total outstanding supply. 

The analysis combines disclosed tokens issued to the founding team with a proprietary probabilistic analysis that identifies previously undisclosed wallets holding customer funds and serving other corporate purposes.

Forbes concludes discrepancies and lack of transparency surrounding Binance’s ICO and token distribution raise questions about the integrity of reported trading volumes and the adequacy of consumer protections. 

Binance CEO Maintains Silence Amid Ongoing Forbes Allegations 

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the Chief Executive Officer of Binance, has remained silent in the face of recent allegations and ongoing investigations brought forth by Forbes. 

The prolonged exchange of statements between the cryptocurrency firm and the renowned news outlet has endured for a significant period. Binance had taken legal action against Forbes in 2020, filing a defamation lawsuit in the US District Court in New Jersey. 

The lawsuit stemmed from Forbes’ publication of “false statements” that Binance allegedly used deceptive practices to deceive regulators and participated in money laundering activities.

Forbes published a series of articles that made damaging claims about Binance’s corporate structure, asserting that it was deliberately designed to deceive regulators and engaged in activities characteristic of money laundering. Binance vehemently denied these allegations, deeming them false and highly defamatory. 

Binance’s attorney, Charles J. Harder, has emphasized the harm caused to Binance’s reputation by Forbes’ misleading story. Binance had requested a retraction or correction from Forbes, which was refused, leading to the necessity of the defamation lawsuit. 

Overall, Binance and Forbes have been embroiled in contentious claims and disputes, with both parties accusing each other of disseminating inaccurate information. 

As the situation unfolds, it remains uncertain how the cryptocurrency exchange will respond to the latest allegations put forth by Forbes.

Binance

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Binance.US Plagued By Staff Exodus: Legal And Risk Executives Abandon Ship

In recent developments, Binance.US, the American affiliate of cryptocurrency giant Binance, is engulfed in a storm of legal challenges and a wave of executive departures. 

Binance.US Rocked By Legal Woes And Executive Exodus

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, key risk and legal executives have chosen to part ways with the company, adding to the growing list of personnel changes within its ranks.

Following this trend, according to a Wall Street Journal report, Krishna Juvvadi, the head of legal, and Sidney Majalya, the chief risk officer, have also decided to leave Binance.US. 

These departures come in the wake of CEO Brian Shroder’s recent exit, further exacerbating the leadership vacuum at the company. Earlier this week, Binance.US announced the departure of CEO Brian Shroder and disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by approximately one-third, amounting to over 100 job cuts. 

These moves underscore the operational challenges faced by the company following legal action taken against it by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ)

Norman Reed, the general counsel who joined Binance.US in December 2021, will serve as the interim CEO, taking over from Shroder. However, Binance.US has not provided any specific reasons for Shroder’s departure.

The legal troubles for Binance and its subsidiaries intensified when the US SEC filed a civil complaint in June. The complaint accuses Binance and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, of creating Binance.US as part of a deceptive scheme to evade US securities laws designed to protect American investors.

While Binance and Binance.US maintain that they operate separately, the legal challenges faced by the global exchange have had a ripple effect across its affiliated entities. 

The departure of key executives, including Mayur Kamat, the global head of product, and Patrick Hillmann, the chief strategy officer, further underscores the turbulent environment within the company.

As the departures of high-ranking executives continue to disrupt Binance.US, the firm’s spokesperson has emphasized the need to ensure uninterrupted customer service while operating as a crypto-only exchange. 

Nevertheless, the ongoing legal battles and the departure of experienced leaders present significant challenges for Binance.US as it seeks to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and regain stability.

Binance.US will have to address the legal allegations against it and make strategic decisions to rebuild its leadership team, strengthen compliance measures, and restore trust among regulators, investors, and users. The outcome of these efforts will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of the exchange and its ability to operate within the highly regulated US crypto market.

Binance.US

Despite the recent news, Binance Coin (BNB) has remained relatively unaffected and has experienced minimal impact on its price. The token has closely followed the overall market trend, exhibiting a slight uptick of 0.5% over the past 24 hours.

Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView.com

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Binance To Refund Users $1 Million In USDT Following CyberConnect Incident

Binance, one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has recently decided to refund users $1 million USDT (Tether) following an incident related to the CyberConnect (CYBER) token. 

The refund aims to compensate users affected by a price discrepancy on listed CYBER tokens due to liquidity constraints on the Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit.

Binance Addresses CyberConnect Woes

As described by Binance, the incident unfolded when a liquidity crunch on CYBER cross-chain bridges hindered transactions on Upbit. This led to a price disparity between Upbit and other exchanges, attracting arbitrageurs who borrowed CYBER from Binance to profit from the price difference. 

Consequently, Binance users who had staked CYBER in its Flexible Earn Program could not redeem their assets since the staked tokens had been borrowed, reaching the loan limit.

In response to the situation, Binance acknowledged users’ feedback and sincerely apologized for the inconvenience caused. The exchange affirmed its commitment to prioritizing users’ interests and maintaining high transparency within the community.

Binance provided a detailed account of the events leading to the incident. It explained that the liquidity crunch on CYBER (ERC20) tokens resulted in a surge of loan requests for CYBER, triggering Binance’s risk management protocol. 

The exchange had to halt new loan requests and increase loan interest rates significantly. However, due to the substantial volume of redemption requests, Binance faced challenges in fulfilling them immediately despite maintaining a maximum borrowing limit as a buffer for redemptions.

Stricter Reviews And Potential Delistings

Moving forward, Binance outlined measures to enhance user experience and mitigate similar risks. These measures include dynamically adjusting loan interest rates and strengthening risk management protocols. 

According to their September 7 announcement, Binance also committed to conducting stricter reviews of tokens with smaller market caps and potentially delisting tokens with lower liquidity from certain programs. To compensate affected users, Binance announced a distribution plan for the $1 million USDT refund. 

It stated that 887 impacted users who failed to redeem their CYBER Simple Earn Flexible Products positions within a specific timeframe would receive a share of USDT tokens from the refund pool and additional CYBER tokens. 

The distribution would be proportionate to the daily average positions of the eligible users. All other users who held CYBER Simple Earn Flexible Products positions during the mentioned period would receive an equal share of CYBER Locked Trial Fund vouchers sponsored by the CyberConnect Foundation.

As the cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, incidents like these serve as reminders of the importance of robust risk management measures and continuous improvements to safeguard user interests and maintain trust in the ecosystem.

Binance

Binance Coin (BNB) is currently trading at $215, in line with the prevailing market trend of stagnation. It has experienced a slight decrease of 0.2% over the past 24 hours and a 1.3% decline over the seven days. These figures indicate a relatively stable performance for BNB amidst the market conditions.

Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView.com