The new Binance guidelines for market makers requires them to disclose information such as their identity and contract terms. Binance Tightens The Grip On Market Makers On Wednesday, the largest centralized crypto exchange in the world released a new set of guidelines aimed to token issuers and liquidity providers, tightening their grip on the mandatory disclosure of market maker identity and legal entity and contract terms. Additionally, Binance is posing an explicit ban on profit‑sharing and guaranteed‑return arrangements. In their blog post, Binance clarifies that a market maker is a professional trader or firm that provides liquidity by always placing buy and sell orders on a CEX or DEX. They earn money from the small difference between their buy price and sell price (the spread). In return, the liquidity they provide help other traders get in or out of positions quickly without moving the price too much. Related Reading: Hyperliquid Takes Over Wall Street: Can PURR Options Trigger a Fresh Rally? Top 3 Red Flags That Market Makers Should Look For Binance highlights ix “red flag” behaviors, including aggressive sell‑offs against vesting schedules, one‑sided order books and coordinated cross‑platform dumping 1. Selling against the vesting schedule Market makers are expected to stick to the token’s agreed vesting and unlock plan. If they start offloading large amounts too early, too often, or in a way that clearly clashes with that schedule, it’s a sign incentives are off or internal risk controls are weak. 2. One‑sided “liquidity” Effective market making is supposed to provide balanced liquidity on both sides of the book. When you see sustained sell orders with little or no matching buy interest from the same party, it can add downward pressure on price and disrupt orderly trading conditions. 3. Coordinated dumping across venues When big token transfers hit several exchanges at once and are quickly followed by heavy selling that goes beyond routine liquidity rebalancing, it’s often a clue that tokens are being systematically offloaded, not just responsibly warehoused for market making. More Illicit Activity Binance warns that market makers should also watch out for volume that doesn’t match price, volatility spikes from thin liquidity and large‑scale token offloading. The new expectations for token projects are clear: strict adherence to token release plans, no large offloads via market makers, full disclosure of MM identities and mandates to the exchange, clear written trading parameters, and continuous monitoring post‑listing. Banned activity includes revenue‑sharing/profit‑sharing models, guaranteed‑return deals between projects and market makers and vague token‑lending agreements that don’t clearly limit how borrowed tokens can be used. The goal of the new rules is to ensure their market-making arrangements are aligned with “long-term market integrity”, as responsible market makers ultimately boost liquidity and “reduce slippage”. Binance warns it will take swift action against violations of the guidelines, including blacklisting market makers that manipulate markets or violate token release schedules. Related Reading: Crypto Analysts Warn: Traders Misreading The Clarity Act Could Miss The Real Opportunity Market Implications Of The Binance Guidelines Binance is effectively admitting that “liquidity support” has doubled as unofficial selling channels and volume‑washing tools, and is trying to pre‑empt both another crash narrative and tougher external regulation. The potential winners of the new rules are retail traders who get cleaner order books and fewer surprise dumps on newly listed tokens, plus more transparent token‑launch structures. The likely losers, however, are smaller token issuers and aggressive market makers who relied on off‑the‑record guarantees or profit splits to juice volume and unlock liquidity. The practical takeaways for traders are the obvious: watch order‑book depth and slippage instead of headline volume, be cautious around early‑stage altcoin listings while market makers and issuers adjust, and expect some pairs to see thinner liquidity as aggressive players step back. If Binance really enforces blacklisting and reporting channels, the cost of “liquidity games” rises, which could reduce short‑term pumps but improve long‑term price discovery on the exchange. BTC’s price drops slightly after reaching $71k yesterday, trading for around $69k today. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview Cover image from Perplexity, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview
The update zeroes in on how market maker setups are structured, signaling that deal terms and trading behavior are now part of Binance’s scrutiny.
The guidelines ban profit-sharing and guaranteed return arrangements, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest and manipulative trading.
Crypto analyst Crypto Patel has predicted that the BNB price could break $3,000, marking a new all-time high (ATH) for the Binance-linked coin. The analyst shared a game plan for exactly how this move is expected to play out by 2028. How The BNB Price Rally To $3,000 Could Play Out In an X post, Crypto Patel said that the BNB price could drop to $400 before hitting $3,000. The analyst noted that the altcoin has bounced perfectly from the near 0.5 Fib Retracement level and now climbed 21%. As to what is next for BNB, he said that if price holds above the 0.5 Fib level, then a new ATH setup would be in play. Related Reading: Analyst Drops ‘Realistic’ Price Predictions For Bitcoin, Ethereum, LINK, BNB, And Aptos However, if the BNB price breaks below $526, then it could lead to a drop to the second accumulation zone (the first being $600) at between $450 to $380, a range which Crypto Patel described as the best discount zone. The analyst said his personal target for BNB is $3,000, which he believes could be reached during the altcoin season. However, he reiterated that he won’t be surprised if a retest of $400 comes before the massive run to $3,000. The BNB price, along with the broader crypto market, is currently facing downward pressure due to the U.S.-Iran war, which is entering its fourth week. Crypto prices had crashed yesterday as oil prices rose to new highs after Iran and Israel attacked key energy sites in the Middle East. Escalating tensions are raising concerns that the war could drive inflation higher, which is bearish for the BNB price and the broader crypto market. Analyst Says BNB Seeing A Notable Shift In Structure In an X post, crypto analyst CryptoPulse noted that the BNB price is showing a notable shift in structure. This came as he revealed that price attempted a breakout to the upside but failed after trading within an ascending channel. The analyst added that BNB has now broken below the lower bound of this ascending channel. CryptoPulse warned that if this level turns into resistance, further downside pressure could follow. Related Reading: Crypto Market Holds Breath Ahead Of FOMC Meeting, Will The Fed Ease Interest Rates? Crypto analyst Batman said that a rally remains on the table for the BNB price. He noted that the altcoin was holding up relatively well and that the price hasn’t made a significant move yet. The analyst also revealed that the token was holding above a key confluence, a bullish FVG, and the 0.618 Fibonacci level. As long as the price holds above $610, Batman said BNB could still rally. At the time of writing, the BNB price is trading at around $642, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
The Scarcity Index flipped to +0.48, a reading that lines up with a clear drop in XRP held on exchanges and signals that less XRP is sitting in tradable wallets than the recent average. CryptoQuant data shows the move was most visible on Binance, where on-platform balances have moved lower over the past weeks. Related Reading: Another Bitcoin Buy Coming? Saylor Sparks Speculation With ‘Orange Dots’ Post Exchange Balances Have Fallen Reports indicate a portion of XRP once held on exchanges has been shifted into private wallets. Large transfers off Binance and other venues reduced the amount of XRP readily available for quick trades. That can shrink the liquid float — the coins traders can buy and sell instantly — even though the total supply of XRP remains unchanged. Based on reports, some of the outflows appear to be custodial moves to cold storage or institutional custody, not token burns. When holders move assets off exchanges, tokens aren’t destroyed; they’re simply harder to access for fast selling. Traders watching on-chain flows see that as accumulation by holders who prefer possession over sitting on an exchange. Short Positions Loom Over Price Open interest in derivatives markets shows short positions clustered above current price levels, and that concentration matters. Reports note if buying volume grows quickly, those short positions can trigger stop-outs and push price sharply in one direction. ???? $XRP SUPPLY IS THINNING ON BINANCE. The Scarcity Index just flipped to +0.48. That means less XRP is sitting on exchanges than the historical average. Coins are being pulled into private wallets. Supply is quietly disappearing. This is NOT moon math. It’s basic economics.… pic.twitter.com/af1gdWnJUj — Xaif Crypto????????|???????? (@Xaif_Crypto) March 15, 2026 That makes markets more sensitive. But sensitivity doesn’t equal certainty. Price still needs buyers. A thinner exchange float can amplify moves when volume arrives, but it won’t create demand out of nothing. Data shows the Scarcity Index is one lens among many. Analysts and traders typically compare it with total exchange reserves across platforms, order book depth, and derivatives positioning to assess risk. If only one exchange shows declining balances, the signal is weaker than if multiple major venues report the same trend. Signals Require Multiple Confirmations According to on-chain observers, a single positive reading of a scarcity metric is not conclusive. Market participants usually look for corroborating signs: cross-exchange reserve declines, inflows into institutional custody products, rising buy volumes, or shifts in open interest that support a directional move. Without those, the scarcity reading is incomplete. Reports indicate the community reaction is mixed. Some traders interpret lower exchange balances as a bullish sign because there may be fewer sellers. Others caution that large holders can still redistribute coins back to exchanges and that a single exchange’s data can be noisy. Related Reading: WLFI Holders Face New 6-Month Lockup Rule To Gain Voting Power Based on the current data, expect volatility if buying picks up and shorts are forced to cover. Watch total exchange reserves, order book liquidity, and derivative metrics together. For now, the Scarcity Index flip to +0.48 is a notable data point. Reports from market watchers and custodians will determine whether it becomes the start of a broader trend or remains a short-lived signal. Featured image from Bitpanda Blog, chart from TradingView
Despite trading more than 40% below its all-time high, with $70,000 serving as a short-term support level, Bitcoin (BTC) may be poised for a repeat pattern that could lead to a 54% increase following this year’s US midterm elections. New research from cryptocurrency exchange Binance suggests that, historically, the aftermath of midterm elections has been positive for both the Bitcoin price and the S&P 500. Will Bitcoin Follow Historical Patterns? The research shows that since 1939, the S&P 500 has reported no negative returns in the 12 months following midterm elections, averaging gains of 19%. In the same periods, Bitcoin has experienced an average rally of 54% across all three previously recorded midterm years. Binance’s analysis further reveals that midterm election years often lead to political volatility, resulting in average peak-to-trough drawdowns of about 16% for the S&P 500—marking them as the weakest years in the four-year presidential cycle. Related Reading: Ripple Launches $750 Million Share Buyback, Boosting Valuation To $50 Billion Tracking Bitcoin from 2014 onward, the research indicates that the market’s leading cryptocurrency has mirrored these market dynamics, with an average decline of 56% during midterm years. The research emphasizes what they call “The Post-Election Opportunity,” as once election results are settled and uncertainties are cleared, markets historically tend to rally significantly. The exchange asserts that the year following midterm elections has been shown to be particularly strong for market returns, thus setting the stage for potential Bitcoin gains as well. If Bitcoin follows a similar trajectory, it could make a strong case for a rebound. However, potentially not toward new record highs. The cryptocurrency has fallen by an average of 70% from its previous all-time highs during previous bear market cycles. With Bitcoin’s bull market peak at $126,000, a potential decline to $37,800 could precede a 54% surge pointed by Binance, potentially returning its price to nearly $58,000. However, some analysts are pointing out that the market bottom may already have been reached. Is The End Of The Bear Market Near? NewsBTC reported Wednesday that CryptoQuant analysts suggest that Bitcoin might be in the final stages of its bear market, especially after it dropped to $59,900 on February 6. Related Reading: White House Crypto Advisor Denounces Attempts To Sabotage CLARITY Act’s Goals Currently, Bitcoin is consolidating between $65,000 and $70,000, eyeing the key resistance level at $73,000. This phase may indicate a final accumulation stage of the bear cycle, which is often succeeded by substantial recoveries, albeit not in a straight path. With this pattern in mind, if Bitcoin maintains its current trading levels, the post-midterm elections in the US could propel the cryptocurrency back toward $107,000 for the first time since November 2025. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Binance’s futures-to-spot ratio has jumped to a 1.5-year high, its highest level since mid-2023. But why? What The Binance Data Says About The Market New data from CryptoQuant analyst Maartuun shows that Binance’s derivative volume is dwarfing spot trading, as the futures/spot ratio has risen to around 5.1. This means that for every $1 traded on spot, about $5 are traded on futures. Most “price discovery” and liquidity is happening in the derivatives order books, not in simple buy‑and‑hold spot markets. Binance-Futures/Spot Volume Ratio. Source: CryptoQuant When the ratio is high, it usually signals that short‑term, leveraged speculation and hedging dominate over straightforward accumulation. Price tends to react more violently to liquidations, funding swings and positioning than to organic spot demand. A rising Binance futures/spot ratio tells us that the market is being run by traders who want speed, leverage and hedging, not by quiet spot accumulators, so volatility and event‑risk matter more than usual right now. Related Reading: Binance Strikes Back: Why It Is Taking The Wall Street Journal To Court Historically, spikes to 1.5‑year highs have coincided with periods where Bitcoin was at or near important macro levels and the market was “trading the narrative” via derivatives, either amplifying rallies or turning corrections into sharp squeezes. As stated on the article posted on May 22 last year, “this pattern often reflects short-term sentiment and positioning rather than long-term conviction”. Therefore, we shouldn’t necessarily read this as pure “euphoria”: it can just as well be hedging and defensive positioning as it is outright speculation. Derivative Market Leader: Exchange Perpetual Futures Trading Volume. Source: CryptoQuant What The Data Says About The World The latest leg of Middle East conflict (U.S.‑Israel vs Iran, risk around Hormuz and oil flows) has injected a clear “geopolitical risk premium” into global markets. Bitcoin and crypto have been hit in these shocks with fast, deep wicks. BTC dropped to around 63k on the February strike headlines before snapping back above 70k, showing markets, following human’s fears and own volatility, react violently but then re‑normalize once the worst headlines pass and the sentiments calm down. Spot Market Leader: Exchange Spot Trading Volume. Source: CryptoQuant Binance research notes that, right now, markets are stuck between multiple unresolved themes. AI‑driven margin pressure, fragile private credit, and now high geopolitical risk, all while inflation and U.S. macro data keep the Fed “higher for longer” narrative alive. That mix (energy risk, sticky inflation, potential for tighter financial conditions) makes long‑horizon risk‑on trades less attractive, so investors lean into instruments they can size up or down quickly, like Binance futures, rather than parking capital in spot. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Holds Near $70K As Markets Brace For Key Event In a calmer, low‑vol world, spot demand tends to dominate. However, in a world of wars, oil scares and uncertain central banks, derivatives on Binance take over as traders seek speed, leverage and hedging. BTC’s price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview Cover image from Perplexity, BTCUSDT chart from Tradingview
Interest in XRP is once again gaining momentum after reports that global payments giant Mastercard is exploring collaboration opportunities with Ripple and its blockchain-based payment infrastructure. The development has drawn attention across the digital asset space, as partnerships between traditional financial institutions and blockchain firms continue to shape the evolution of cross-border payments. What The Collaboration Could Mean For The XRP Ecosystem An initiative from Mastercard is drawing significant attention to the role of blockchain technology in global payments, particularly to XRP. Crypto commentator Archie revealed on X that Mastercard has recently launched a Crypto Partner Program that brings together more than 85 companies from across the digital asset ecosystem. The partnership includes platforms such as Binance, PayPal, and blockchain firm Ripple to revolutionize the role of digital assets in global payments. Related Reading: Why XRP’s Infrastructure May Be Positioned For The Tokenisation Boom This powerhouse collaboration aims to connect blockchain-based technologies directly to Mastercard’s global payments infrastructure, spanning over 200 countries. Archie suggests that this type of initiative could support use cases such as seamless cross-border transfers, lightning-fast business-to-business payments, and more instant global payout systems. Within that framework, Ripple’s expertise in on-chain solutions payment infrastructure places it in a strategic position for XRP as the go-to asset for real-world utility. As traditional finance giants like Mastercard and Visa move to integrate crypto, XRP is primed for explosive growth. This isn’t hype, it’s adoption in action. Where XRP Could Fit In The Expanding Digital Payments Ecosystem The scale of stablecoin activity is becoming one of the most overlooked developments in the digital asset space. An analyst known as XFinanceBull has highlighted that in 2025 alone, stablecoins processed an estimated $33 trillion in transaction volume, reflecting real payment activity rather than projections. This growth has been rapid, with total transaction volume rising 72% year over year while global user adoption reportedly surged 146% across 106 countries. Related Reading: XRP Funding Rates And Spot Volume Tell An Interesting Story For Price Several regional dynamics are helping drive this expansion. In Nigeria, a remittance economy estimated at $59 billion is increasingly interacting with digital dollar alternatives. In Turkey, demand for dollar-denominated stability amid currency volatility has driven the adoption of stablecoins into everyday use. Meanwhile, institutional settlement initiatives in the United Arab Emirates are also contributing to the growing role of blockchain-based payment infrastructure. One of the fastest-growing segments is cross-border business-to-business payments, which expanded 733% to about $226 billion in transaction flows. According to XFinanceBull, this trend reveals a deeper shift in finance, and stablecoins are evolving beyond trading tools into a foundational layer for digital payments. Within this evolving landscape, Ripple’s stablecoin initiative, RLUSD, has positioned its ecosystem directly inside this expanding liquidity layer. As stablecoins move globally, the networks providing settlement infrastructure may become strategically important. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
Wallets linked to the team behind President Donald Trump’s Solana-based TRUMP memecoin sent a large batch of tokens to Binance on March 12, adding a fresh supply overhang to a project that has crashed to an all-time low. On March 12, blockchain data from Arkham Intelligence showed that a BitGo custodial wallet associated with the […]
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Binance and its founder and ex-CEO Zhao now maintain a rehabilitated relationship with the American government.
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
Binance has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over a “false and defamatory” article. Why Binance Filed Following a WSJ reporting published on February 23, Binance has announced on a blog post today that they have filed a lawsuit against them, claiming that the article contained “false and defamatory statements”. The complaint seeks “vindication” of Binance’s reputation and “accountability for the harm those statements have caused”, citing amongst these consequences “baseless and unnecessary inquiries into the company” by government officials, referring to Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Dugan Bliss, Binance’s Global Head of Litigation, assured in the blog post that Binance takes “immense pride” in their compliance program, reflected by the trust that more than 300 million users worldwide continue to place in the company. As stated by Bliss: We view this lawsuit as a necessary step to defend ourselves against misinformation, hold The Wall Street Journal accountable for prioritizing clicks over journalistic integrity, and address the significant reputational harm and business consequences that have resulted. Binance’s lawyers (Withers Bergman / Withersworldwide) sent a formal letter demanding immediate corrections, a full retraction, and removal of the WSJ piece. This clash follows Binance’s 2023 4.3 billion dollar U.S. settlement and guilty plea over anti‑money‑laundering and sanctions violations, still shaping the exchange’s monitorship today, which WSJ reportedly used as context to suggest ongoing compliance weaknesses. ????NEW: Just as the @WSJ reports the DOJ has begun investigating Iran’s use of @binance to evade sanctions, Binance has filed a defamation lawsuit against the publication in the Southern District of New York. Binance is seeking damages and legal fees and is demanding a jury… pic.twitter.com/XxjE8oxH1I — Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) March 11, 2026 Related Reading: Bitcoin Reclaims $70,000 as Iran War Jitters Ease and Volatility Cools Inside The WSJ “Defamatory” Article The 23th February WSJ article accused of being “seriously misleading” by Binance reported that Binance investigators identified around $1 billion in crypto moving through the exchange to a network tied to Iranian entities and groups under U.S. sanctions. WSJ claimed that internal investigators uncovered large transfers from Binance clients to Iran‑linked groups (including Houthi‑aligned entities) in 2024–2025 and that some staff who pushed the issue were sidelined or removed, as covered by an article on our sister’s website Bitcoinist. “Measurable Results” Binance argues that WSJ ignored extensive rebuttals and cherry‑picked ex‑employee claims, pointing to “measurable improvement over time” based on internal data, such as a 97%+ reduction in exposure to sanctioned entities and expanded sanctions screening after the 2023 settlement or their support on the freezing and recovery of hundreds of million of dollars linked to illicit activity in 2025. They clarified that while the way public blockchains work means the risk cannot be reduced to zero, they are responsible in monitoring possible illegal activity: As we have noted before, public blockchains allow any party to send assets to an exchange deposit address without the exchange’s prior approval. That reality means risk cannot be reduced to absolute zero on any blockchain platform. Responsible operators focus on detection, investigation, mitigation, offboarding, and reporting, backed by ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement. Related Reading: Bitcoin Robbery: French Couple Held Hostage As Fake Cops Steal €900K in BTC What This Case Means For Crypto Reputational and legal risk could still shape Binance’s access to banking partners and certain jurisdictions, which in turn can affect liquidity, listing confidence, and perceived counterparty risk. The case may also influence how aggressively big media outlets cover crypto compliance going forward: if Binance wins or forces corrections, other projects might be quicker to push back on critical narratives, but if WSJ prevails, expect even sharper investigative focus on exchanges’ sanctions controls. Following Binance’s today’s blog post announcing the lawsuit, WSJ took down another report published today claiming the Department of Justice is investigating Iran’s use of Binance to evade sanctions. ???????? Department of Justice is investigating Iran’s use of Binance to evade sanctions. pic.twitter.com/zc03U1J5rs — Ted (@TedPillows) March 11, 2026 BTC’s price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview Cover image from Perplexity, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview
Binance has sued The Wall Street Journal over a February report alleging the exchange halted an internal probe into Iran-linked crypto flows.
The situation adds pressure to Binance, which is already operating under a compliance monitor following its $4.3 billion anti-money laundering and sanctions settlement in 2023.
More than 85 partners will work with Mastercard to connect on-chain payments with banks, merchants and global commerce as part of the payment giant's recent crypto program.
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Iran used crypto exchange Binance to evade sanctions, per the Wall Street Journal.
The long-term vision of XRP has often been debated within the crypto market, where price speculation and retail trading tend to dominate the narrative. The proponents of the asset argue that XRP’s core purpose extends beyond short-term market cycles. Instead, they view it as a key component of the emerging concept of the Internet of Value, and enable the seamless transfer of money and assets across global networks as easily as information moves across the internet. XRP’s long-term significance has never been rooted in retail speculation, but in its potential fit-in-purpose utility within an emerging Internet of Value infrastructure. Analyst Rob Cunningham has mentioned on X that the world markets advance toward regulated digital commodity venues, clearer token classification, and tokenized movement of value across interoperable rails. Thus, assets designed for fast settlement, liquidity bridging, and neutral transfer between networks become relevant. How The Internet Of Value Requires Interoperable Assets Cunningham noted that regulatory developments such as the Clarity Act framework are not designed as an XRP bill, and no law can guarantee XRP adoption. However, clearer market structure legislation could address one of its long-standing challenges in the US: legal ambiguity, which is an inference from the legislation’s structure and purpose, not a promise. Related Reading: Cardano Founder Shares What To Expect For XRP If The Clarity ACT Is Passed Analyst Cunningham frames this transition as the “shipping container moment” for finance, meaning the financial world is standardising the movement of value, similar to how it standardised the movement of goods. When this shift happens, the winners are rarely the loudest brands, but it’s the rails, standards, and protocols that reduce friction across the system. From this perspective, the growth of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) adoption signals a deeper transformation of truth, and settlement and ownership are being re-architected at the protocol level. Cunningham views this trend as a “sound-money renaissance” focused less on nostalgia and more on restoring transparent rules and reliable measurements for digital finance. Related Reading: Pundit Explains How XRP Becomes A Global Reserve Asset In that broader macro context, the debate around the Clarity Act reflects a decision about whether the US will lead the digital asset transition through clear legislation or allow innovation to remain in regulatory ambiguity. Meanwhile, the XRP implications become strongest in a world that requires neutral, fast, and interoperable value transfer under well-defined rules, where the macro-direction is increasingly favourable, as the regulated utility will ultimately matter more than the narrative cycle in the market. A Liquidity Shift Is Unfolding In The XRP Market A notable shift is emerging in the XRP market liquidity. Crypto commentator XFinanceBull revealed that the data from exchange heatmaps shows that Upbit has recently moved into the top position for XRP trading volume, surpassing major global platforms such as Binance and Coinbase. This development shows that market liquidity is positioning before the broader narratives become recognised. According to XFinanceBull, the surge in XRP activity on a South Korean exchange suggests that regional traders are betting on the network. Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com
A lawsuit accusing the crypto exchange Binance of allowing terrorism financing by facilitating it has fallen apart after a US Federal court dismissed it. Not Terrorist Supporters The Troell et al. v. Binance case was dismissed in an opinion and order issued on March 6 by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The defendants’ motions were granted against a complaint brought by 535 plaintiffs, all of whom were victims or family members of victims of terrorist attacks. Related Reading: 43% of Bitcoin Supply Is In Loss As Market Nears Bear Territory The Accusation The plaintiffs accused Binance, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao (its founder and former CEO) and BAM Trading Services (the company behind the Binance.US exchange) of facilitating 64 terrorist attacks carried out between 2016 and 2024. They claimed that Binance, Zhao and BAM Trading allowed wallets allegedly tied to Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, al‑Qaeda, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Iranian proxies to move funds, amounting to aiding and abetting terrorism under the U.S. Anti‑Terrorism Act and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). Why The Crypto-Terror Financing Case Fell Apart The court granted the motions to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), finding that the complaint failed to plausibly allege that Binance “knowingly provided substantial assistance” to the specific attacks at issue. The Judge’s Two Big Criticisms Judge Jeannette Vargas’s opinion is based on two fundamental weaknesses she identified in the plaintiffs’ theory. First, although the complaint leaned heavily on blockchain traces, sanctions‑list designations and reports of terrorist groups using Binance, it did not plausibly show that Binance, Zhao or BAM Trading knew at the time that specific wallets on the platform were controlled by FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization) or their close associates. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bear Market Could Be Shrinking, But Are We Watching History Repeating Itself? Second, the court held that the plaintiffs failed to connect the alleged crypto flows on Binance to the 64 terrorist attacks they invoked. The complaint mapped out millions of dollars in transactions involving “FTO‑associated” or Iran‑linked wallets and described a broad ecosystem built to fund operations, but it did not identify who owned the wallets at issue, when specific transfers took place, what role those transfers played in operational planning. It also didn’t identify how any given Binance‑processed transaction materially advanced the specific bombings, rocket attacks, shootings, hostage‑takings, or the Wizard Spider ransomware incident that harmed the 535 plaintiffs. The Law Behind The Reasoning Under the U.S. Anti‑Terrorism Act and JASTA (The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act), it is not enough to show that designated terrorist organizations or sanctioned Iranian actors touched a platform at some point in time. Victims must plausibly allege that the defendant knew who it was dealing with and that its conduct was closely linked to the attacks at issue, not just to terrorism “in general.” In this case, the judge held that generalized allegations about “terrorist‑associated wallets” on Binance, and references to lax KYC (Know Your Customer), VPN loopholes, and U.S. user evasion, did not amount to a concrete showing that Binance’s services materially advanced the operations that the plaintiffs suffered. Plaintiffs still have 60 days to refile, so, in truth, Binance is not entirely out of the woods yet. Besides, Binance remains under intense scrutiny: the exchange is still navigating a $4.3 billion AML and sanctions plea deal, a court‑appointed monitor, and political pressure in Washington over alleged terror‑finance exposure, as detailed by Bitcoinist and NewsBTC. BTC's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview
The court found that while Binance was plausibly aware of its role in terrorist financing, the lawsuit failed to show firm connections to specific attacks.
According to recent on-chain data, large investors in the XRP market seem to be adjusting their positions. Further analysis suggests that if XRP finds favorable alignment with the current conditions, it could be at the start of a larger upside rally. 44 Million XRP Leave Binance Late In February In a Quicktake post on CryptoQuant, market analyst Amr Taha shared that there have recently been major withdrawals of XRP tokens from Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. This outflow trend is based on the Multi Exchanges Daily Whales Netflow metric. Related Reading: Bitcoin May Hit $180,000 This Year, But Only If This Scenario Plays Out: Amber Data For context, this metric monitors the daily net flows of XRP held by whale wallets across 15 major crypto exchanges (all of which Binance leads in trading volume). Positive readings from the metric indicate that XRP is moving into the exchanges; on the other hand, negative netflows signal an efflux of XRP from these exchanges. According to the analyst, there has been a significant increase in negative netflows from the Binance platform. This is also reflected in the chart shared below, where, as of February 27th, about 44 million XRP tokens flowed out of Binance’s whale wallet addresses. Interestingly, this event was not a one-off in the month of February, as roughly 30 million XRP had left these same wallets on the 6th of the month. What This Means For XRP Price Increasing netflows on exchanges is often a tell-tale sign of investors’ intention to sell off their holdings or exchange their coins, thereby adding bearish pressure to the market. So, when whale netflows lean towards the negative, it means there is less bearish intent among this investor cohort. Also, when two withdrawals of this magnitude happen within the same month, it is a clear suggestion that these large market players might actually be accumulating XRP in equally large amounts. It could also be a sign that, rather than accumulation, these large holders are locking up their tokens for long-term storage. Based on historical precedent, events like this are often bound to have positive effects on the price of an asset. In the event that netflows are significantly large, the analyst points out that there is a corresponding reduction in available XRP supply. This means there would be less XRP in the market than is currently being demanded by buyers. Demand exceeding supply is a typical economic situation that drives an asset’s price to the upside. It then becomes clear that if current demand levels persist or increase, the altcoin’s price would likely follow an upward trajectory. At the time of writing, XRP is valued at approximately $1.37, reflecting a 2.9% decline in the past day. Related Reading: Analyst Shares Timeline For When A New Bitcoin Bull Run Will Begin This Year Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
Blumenthal, a top Democrat on an investigative panel within the Senate Homeland Security Committee, opened a Binance inquiry last month.
Crypto exchange pushed back on $1.7 billion Iran-linked flow allegations and called media reports behind the probe “defamatory.”
Brad Jaffe, the former global communications leader at Binance, becomes chief communications officer at KAST.
The regulatory nod will let UAE-based financial institutions deal in tokenized equities on Binance's regulated trading venue.
The Nasdaq-bound payments firm backed by SoftBank targets a valuation above $10 billion.
The Bitcoin and Ethereum prices plunged sharply over the weekend as missiles flew across the Middle East, exposing just how quickly geopolitical crises can send shockwaves through the financial markets. A joint US and Israel strike on Iran triggered a violent selloff that wiped out billions of dollars from the crypto market in a matter of hours. Fresh reports now indicate that Bitcoin and Ethereum are beginning to recover. Still, with geopolitical tensions continuing to escalate, it remains uncertain whether this renewed momentum can be sustained. Bitcoin Price Recovers After US-Israel War Fueled Crash Geopolitical shockwaves rattled global financial markets this past weekend as a joint US and Israeli military operation against Iran sent Bitcoin into a sharp but brief decline, wiping out millions of dollars in long positions before a partial recovery took hold. Notably, BTC plummeted to nearly $63,000 overnight following the coordinated strikes on Iranian military targets. Related Reading: Bitcoin Has Officially Entered Bearish Territory, And It’s Headed To $35,000; Chart Shows Within 45 minutes of Israel launching its assault, Bitcoin shed $2,500 in value, while more than $200 million worth of long positions were liquidated in just one hour. The broader crypto market saw roughly $72 billion wiped out amid the chaos. The sell-off was swift and severe, with major exchange players including Binance, Coinbase, and trading firm Winternute offloading more than $3.5 billion in Bitcoin within a 20-minute window. This further added downward pressure to the already declining and volatile market. Despite the carnage, Bitcoin has since climbed back above $66,000, according to CoinMarketCap data, though volatility remains elevated as the Middle East conflict shows no signs of immediate resolution. Market analysts were quick to explain the technical reasons behind BTC’s price decline. One expert noted that Bitcoin did not crash for no reason. She explained that because it was the most accessible and highest volume asset that trades around the clock, it was significantly exposed to weekend fear and panic selling compared to other major asset classes. Ethereum Price Rebounds After Massive Sell-Off Ethereum also took a hit alongside Bitcoin following news of the US-Israel war. ETH dropped roughly 10% within just one hour of the news breaking, falling below $1,900 and erasing all the gains it had made when it briefly touched $2,000 last week. At its lowest point, Ethereum fell to around $1,850 before rebounding back above $1,950. Related Reading: Are Institutions Killing Bitcoin And Ethereum? Here’s How They’ve Fared Since Companies Got Involved Notably, the crash triggered sharp declines in Ethereum derivatives markets, with millions of dollars in liquidations. A large percentage of those liquidations came from long positions, suggesting that traders who had bet on Ethereum rising were hit the hardest. In the broader context, the Ethereum price was already experiencing a downturn, meaning the geopolitical shock had compounded an already painful downtrend for ETH holders. In addition to Ethereum, other altcoins, such as XRP, saw major sell-offs as geopolitical tensions rose. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
The case traces back to a wave of class action lawsuits filed in April 2020 against major crypto exchanges and token issuers.
Nine lawmakers asked the federal agencies to investigate the global crypto exchange after reports of potential funding channeled to terrorist groups.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is once again facing mounting scrutiny in Washington, as lawmakers question whether the company is living up to the terms of its 2023 settlement with US authorities — an agreement that ultimately led to the resignation of its founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ). Democrats Urge DOJ And Treasury Investigation On Friday, journalist Eleanor Terrett of Crypto In America reported that eleven Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee, led by crypto-skeptic Elizabeth Warren, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging their departments to examine Binance’s operations. Related Reading: Jane Street Faces New Lawsuit: Trump Media Calls For Federal Investigation The lawmakers pointed to recent media reports alleging illicit finance activity on the platform, including transactions reportedly linked to Iran, and warned that such conduct could place Binance in violation of its 2023 settlement. In their letter, the senators also referenced Binance’s expanding business relationships with President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures, as well as Trump’s pardon of Zhao. They called for what they described as a “thorough, impartial” investigation into whether the exchange is adhering to its legal obligations. The latest pressure follows a separate inquiry launched earlier in the week. As previously reported by Bitcoinist, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal initiated a formal probe through the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Binance Denies Sanctions Violations In a letter dated February 24 and addressed to Binance co-CEO Richard Teng, Blumenthal cited reporting that suggested the exchange may have facilitated “large-scale violations” of US and international sanctions on Iran. Related Reading: Circle Tops Q4 Revenue Forecasts, Shares Surge 30% — Key Numbers Inside Blumenthal noted that Binance appeared to ignore warnings and recommendations aimed at reducing Iranian money laundering operations. He also referred to the same reports cited by the Senate banking committee Democrats, indicating that $1.7 billion in transactions to Iran may have passed through the platform. Binance has strongly denied the allegations. The company said it conducted an internal review and found “no evidence of violations of applicable sanctions laws.” The exchange also rejected claims that it had dismissed investigators for raising concerns related to sanctions compliance. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com