London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Binance Is Under Federal Investigation. Bitcoin, Coinbase, and the Crypto World Are Reeling.

Binance Is Under Federal Investigation. Bitcoin, Coinbase, and the Crypto World Are Reeling.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance Holdings, is under investigation by federal authorities for money laundering and tax evasion, according to a report in Bloomberg.
The news is sending another shock wave through the crypto market. Prices for Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptos were already reeling from a tweet by Tesla (ticker: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, who said that Tesla will no longer accept payments for its cars in Bitcoin.

Coinbase Global (COIN), the largest publicly traded crypto-exchange, closed down 6.5% to $265.10. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) was off 11.4% to $37.18. Riot Blockchain (RIOT) was off 16%. And the newly launched Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators exchange-traded fund (BITQ) ended the day down 7.5% to $21.49.

Binance, which is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, is being investigated by the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service. According to Bloomberg, “officials who probe money laundering and tax offenses have sought information from individuals with insight into Binance’s business.”

Binance says it has a “robust compliance program that incorporates anti-money-laundering principles and tools used by financial institutions to detect and address suspicious activity,” according to a statement emailed to Barron’s. Binance cooperates with law enforcement, the firm said, adding “we don’t comment on specific matters or inquiries.”

Regulators have long had concerns that cryptos are funding illegal activities such as money laundering or tax evasion. Hackers also appear to be trafficking in cryptos. The operators of the Colonial Pipeline paid Eastern European hackers a nearly $5 million ransom in an untraceable crypto after its pipeline was hacked, according to Bloomberg.

The scope of the Binance investigation isn’t known. But the market is interpreting it as the “start of a long-feared crackdown on the crypto space by the U.S. government,” according to BTIG analyst Mark Palmer.

Crypto exchanges have been hacked and accused of price manipulation, and regulators are working on a comprehensive set of rules to govern the exchanges and broader crypto trading markets.

Palmer, for one, views the dip in Coinbase’s stock as a buying opportunity. He points out that Coinbase, unlike decentralized exchanges, built its platform on a centralized model and has long cooperated with government regulators.

“We expect the Binance news to serve as a net positive for COIN as it seeks to grow its retail and institutional business and to increase its share of the world’s crypto assets on its platform, which stood at 11.3% as of March 31,” Palmer wrote in a note on Thursday.

He reiterated a Buy rating a $500 target on the stock.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×