As tensions between Binance and the Nigerian government escalate amid scrutiny from regulators from around the world, the exchange has made a significant move to break its long-standing no-headquarters policy. mine.

CEO Richard Teng said Binance is in the process of establishing a global headquarters:

“We are talking to a number of jurisdictions and a number of them are under consideration.”

Nigerian crisis

Earlier this year, the Philippines blocked Binance for allegedly failing to comply with licensing requirements.

In March, Nigerian authorities charged Binance with money laundering and tax violations, and jailed the exchange's chief executive Tigran Gambaryan pending trial.

Binance has protested Gambaryan's detention and called the charges against him "baseless."

“Our top priority is to do what we can to bring him home as soon as possible,” Teng said, adding the company is working closely with Nigerian authorities to resolve the issue.

The establishment of the headquarters has long been a point of contention at Binance, even before Teng took over last November.

In 2019, co-founder and then-CEO Changpeng Zhao said that headquarters and offices were “old concepts” and “those days are passing.”

At a financial conference in London last fall, Teng bristled at questions about the company's actual headquarters.

Unorthodox ways

Because mainstream practices and regulations could not be accepted, Binance was born in 2023.

In November, the company pleaded guilty to violating US banking laws by facilitating cryptocurrency transactions from sanctioned entities such as terrorist organizations and had to pay a fine of 4.3 billion USD. Zhao, who also pleaded guilty and resigned as CEO.

Teng, a former director of corporate finance at Singapore's central bank, has experience in management roles.

At Binance, he vowed to establish appropriate anti-money laundering and KYC policies and comply with regulations.

Under the terms of #Binance 's settlement with US authorities, an independent, court-approved watchdog is scrutinizing Binance's progress on this front.

Teng appears to be hoping the establishment of a global headquarters will signal that Binance is truly changing the way it operates.

“It's not easy to choose one because there are countless factors, including how regulations apply to services, Binance's tax policies, and the ease of hiring and onboarding employees.”