🎰 Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, which accounts for about half of global cryptocurrency trading, will be kicked out of the United States and pay $4.4 billion in fines for violating money laundering laws.
The founder and owner of the exchange, Changpeng Zhao, will pay a $200 million fine and resign. In addition, he faces 10 to 18 months in prison. The exchange's former chief compliance officer, Samuel Lim, will pay a $1.5 million fine.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that Binance allowed money laundering to such structures as the Iza ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the militant wing of Hamas) and the Islamic State. Also, the services of the exchange were actively used by criminal structures involved in human trafficking, drugs, etc. A significant part of the violations is related to circumvention of anti-Iranian sanctions.