Binance founder Changpeng Zhao to become richest prisoner in US history

As a researcher with a background in finance and experience following the crypto market closely, I find it fascinating to observe Binance’s resilience amidst its founder Changpeng Zhao’s legal issues. The exchange has reportedly generated an impressive $9.8 billion in annual revenue for March, demonstrating its robustness and ability to adapt despite regulatory challenges.


Despite the ongoing legal issues faced by Binance‘s founder, Changpeng Zhao, the crypto exchange remains prosperous.

According to Bloomberg’s calculations, it is estimated that Binance earned approximately $9.8 billion in annual revenue during March. Despite the ongoing uncertainties regarding Changpeng Zhao’s verdict and Binance’s legal issues, the exchange has managed to maintain its regular operations with minimal disruptions.

Some investors have mentioned that they haven’t noticed much difference in their trading activities. A few of them even view the new settlement as bringing a sense of stability during ongoing regulatory examination.

If a Seattle judge concurs with prosecutors and orders Zhao’s imprisonment, he will become the wealthiest individual in US federal prison history. Despite his tenure as Binance’s owner, worth an estimated $43 billion, his fortune would remain unaffected during his incarceration.

The prosperity of Zhao is predicted to expand with Binance’s expanding business during this recent surge in cryptocurrency market growth. Although he was granted the CEO position as part of an agreement with the authorities, Zhao’s significant impact on the company remains evident.

As an analyst, I would rephrase the given text as follows: From my perspective, traders have distinct views towards Binance and Zhao compared to FTX. While FTX faced insolvency due to its founder Sam Bankman-Fried misusing billions of dollars in cryptocurrencies belonging to users, Binance has managed to avoid such controversies.

Zhao has stepped down from being the public representative of the company. Contrary to his previous preference for avoiding the limelight, he had not sought out fame like FTX’s Bankman-Fried did. However, after pleading guilty, Zhao chose to keep a discreet profile.

I served as Binance’s CEO until November 2023, at which point I stepped down amidst a long-standing investigation by U.S. regulators. The allegations centered around our platform enabling transactions with clients hailing from sanctioned territories. I acknowledged the wrongdoing and reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Binance consented to pay a collective fine of $4.3 billion, while I personally assumed responsibility by agreeing to a $50 million penalty.

The US Justice Department is advocating for a prison term of 36 months for Changpeng Zhao, the ex-CEO of Binance cryptocurrency exchange, during his upcoming sentencing on April 30 in a Seattle courthouse.

Read More

2024-04-30 17:56