In a recent court filing, U.S. prosecutors have requested that Binance CEO Changpeng (CZ) Zhao remain in the country until his sentencing, citing a substantial risk of flight. The filing states that Zhao should not be permitted to return to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before his sentencing on February 23, 2024. This request comes as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in which Zhao pleaded guilty to one charge of violating the Bank Secrecy Act and stepped down as the CEO of Binance. Although he is barred from being an executive with Binance for at least three years, Zhao remains the majority owner of the exchange.
Flight Risk and Non-U.S. Citizenship
Prosecutors argue that Zhao poses a flight risk due to his status as a non-U.S. citizen, with citizenship in the UAE. They highlight his substantial wealth outside of the United States, minimal ties to the country, and residence in a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. These factors, according to the prosecutors, increase the risk of Zhao fleeing the country before his sentencing.
Release on Bond
Following his guilty plea, Zhao was taken into custody but subsequently released on a $175 million bond. This decision was made despite the prosecutors' concerns about his potential flight risk. However, it seems that the prosecutors are now seeking to restrict his travel to the UAE until the sentencing date.
Implications for Binance
Zhao's departure as CEO of Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, is part of a broader settlement that will see the exchange exit the U.S. market and pay $4.3 billion in penalties for anti-money laundering and sanctions violations. Despite this setback, Binance will continue to operate outside of the United States, with Richard Teng, previously the exchange's Global Head of Regional Markets, taking over as CEO.
The request made by U.S. prosecutors for Zhao to remain in the country until his sentencing highlights the severity of the charges against him and the concerns about him potentially fleeing. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding Binance and its former CEO. As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these legal challenges will impact the future of the exchange and the wider crypto industry.
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