Binance.US and the US Securities and Exchange Commission are trying to reach a solution in order to avoid a total asset freeze.

According to a report from Bloomberg, US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson announced Tuesday that the two sides “aren’t that far apart” on ways to protect billions of dollars in customer funds without shutting the exchange down while the SEC’s lawsuit proceeds. 

Currently, the two parties are working on a compromise agreement, with the judge referring them to a magistrate judge to find a mutually agreed upon solution.

“Shutting it down completely would create significant consequences not only for the company but for the digital asset markets in general," the judge reportedly said. 

Last week, the SEC requested an asset freeze for Binance.US, the US arm of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, as part of its lawsuit against the company and its founder Changpeng Zhao. 

In the complaint, the SEC accused Binance and Zhao of mishandling customer funds, misleading investors and regulators, and breaking securities rules. 

The commission also claimed Binance improperly moved billions of dollars of customer funds to a bank account for an entity controlled by Zhao. 

Those funds were transferred to a third party and then appeared to be used to purchase and sell crypto, the regulator said.

Binance.US Said an Asset Freeze Could Harm Customers

Binance.US, which is fighting the SEC’s suit and insists that customer assets are safe, claimed during the hearing that blocking the flow of all funds would detract from business and would ultimately harm customers.

One of the Binance.US lawyers emphasized that the platform needs to have the ability to cover ordinary business expenses such as payments for rent, salaries, vendors, and licensing of software. 

“The area that is giving us consternation is an asset freeze that will be misconstrued by banks,” the lawyers explained. 

In response to the SEC’s request for an asset freeze, #Binance had proposed a compromise to transfer US customer cryptoassets to new wallets with new private keys that would be under the sole control of US-based officers at Binance.US.

As part of its proposal, the exchange also asked for permission to keep paying employees and cover operating costs while pledging that no assets would be transferred or payments made to benefit any Binance entity without a judge’s order. 

Meanwhile, as part of its compromise proposal, the SEC asked Binance to send all crypto funds belonging to US customers to the US, where they’d be under the control of entities that are outside the reach of Zhao and can handle redemptions for customers.

It is worth noting that Binance is not the only crypto company that has attracted the ire of US regulators; the SEC also sued #Coinbase , the largest US-based cryptocurrency exchange, last week. 

Moreover, the commission has taken enforcement action against crypto exchanges Kraken and Bittrex, as well as crypto lending platform #Nexo .

#BinanceTournament #universalcryptoworld

Nexo, a prominent platform in the field of #cryptocurrency lending, emphatically demands compensation of $3 billion from the Bulgarian government. This claim arose in response to the suspension of a criminal investigation, which, according to Nexo, caused significant damage to its reputation and financial losses for its shareholders. The company asserts that it was unjustly accused and that the dismissal of the investigation indicates its innocence.
A Closer Look at Nexo’s Arbitration Lawsuit and Its Consequences
Details of Nexo's arbitration lawsuit against the Republic of Bulgaria were publicly shared through Cointelegraph. Nexo turned to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington, DC, USA, to seek financial compensation for the alleged unauthorized actions of the Bulgarian government. This step represents a significant legal precedent in the realm of cryptocurrencies and their regulation.
 Case History: Bulgarian Accusations and Subsequent Withdrawal
The development of the #Nexo case in Bulgaria highlights the complexity of legal issues associated with cryptocurrencies. In December 2023, Bulgarian prosecutors withdrew all charges against Nexo after failing to find evidence supporting their initial claims of criminal activity. The managers of Nexo were originally accused of participating in organized crime related to cryptocurrency lending. This withdrawal of charges represents a significant turnaround in the case, which had widespread impacts on the reputation and business activities of the company.
 Long-term Impact on Nexo’s Plans and Operations
Nexo states that the investigation interrupted their plans for a public stock offering and potential sponsorship of a significant European football club. These unrealized business opportunities, according to Trenchev, a representative of the company, had a significant negative impact on the growth and development of the company. Furthermore, Nexo had to agree on a $45 million settlement with U.S. regulatory authorities in connection with their Earn Interest product and subsequently announced its decision to cease operations in the USA. This move was justified by a "lack of regulatory clarity" and represents a fundamental change in the company's global strategy.
 Outlook and Expected Consequences of the Arbitration
The situation surrounding Nexo and Bulgaria represents significant interest in international business and investment law, particularly in the context of the growing cryptocurrency industry. The ICSID’s decision will be closely watched as it may set a precedent for similar cases in the future and could have a long-term impact on the regulation of cryptocurrencies and the protection of investors in this dynamically evolving sector.
  $NEXO

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