U.S. reportedly examining Binance over possible Iran sanctions violations
According to Reuters and Bloomberg, U.S. federal prosecutors are examining whether Binance failed to prevent trading that may have violated sanctions against Iran. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the new probe.
Binance is reportedly under examination for possible violations of sanctions against Iran by U.S. federal prosecutors, according to Reuters and Bloomberg. On September 21, Reuters, citing Bloomberg, reported that authorities were examining whether the exchange failed to prevent trading that may have violated U.S. sanctions against Iran.
According to the report, the examination is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) in Manhattan, with the Justice Department’s criminal division in Washington also reportedly involved. The Justice Department (DOJ) and SDNY have not publicly confirmed the existence of the new criminal probe. Its precise scope is therefore unknown, as is whether it could result in charges against the exchange or specific individuals.
Binance examination follows DOJ civil filing
The report comes shortly after a civil filing by the U.S. Department of Justice. On September 14, the DOJ sought forfeiture of $61 million in cryptocurrency. In the filing, it claimed that two Chinese companies used Binance accounts to launder proceeds from Iran’s black-market oil sales.
A civil asset-forfeiture proceeding by itself does not mean that Binance faces new criminal charges. It has also not been publicly confirmed whether the alleged examination described by Bloomberg is directly connected to the filing. The claim that the exchange knowingly enabled specific transactions violating sanctions remains the subject of an alleged examination, not a proven conclusion.
The exchange has already reached an agreement with U.S. authorities
Binance has already faced extensive criminal proceedings in the U.S. In November 2023, the DOJ announced that Binance and its then-CEO Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to federal crimes, including violations of sanctions regulations. The agreement included total financial penalties exceeding $4 billion.
The new information therefore comes in the context of an existing agreement between the exchange and U.S. authorities. The DOJ’s September 14 civil filing also specifically links accounts on the platform to alleged proceeds from Iran’s illegal oil sales.
What is not yet known
- whether the DOJ or SDNY will officially confirm the existence and subject of the examination,
- whether the examination concerns Binance as a company, individuals, or specific accounts and transactions,
- whether authorities will take another formal step, such as bringing charges, issuing subpoenas, or announcing a new agreement,
- what full statement Binance will provide regarding the alleged probe and claims about accounts used by the two Chinese companies.
No new charge, sanction, or other measure against Binance has been announced so far. Reuters’ information is based on Bloomberg’s report about an examination that U.S. authorities have not publicly confirmed.
Sources
- Reuters (republished by Investing.com) – Confirms that Reuters picked up Bloomberg’s report about the alleged federal examination of Binance, its leadership in Manhattan, and the involvement of the DOJ’s criminal division.
- U.S. Department of Justice – Southern District of New York – Documents the September 14 civil filing seeking forfeiture of $61 million and prosecutors’ claim that two Chinese companies used Binance accounts.
- U.S. Department of Justice – Documents Binance and Zhao’s 2023 criminal guilty pleas and financial penalties exceeding $4 billion.
Verified and updated: 09/22/2026 06:23
