Binance faces US probe over possible Iran sanctions violations
 |
Binance faces US probe over possible Iran sanctions violations |
NEW YORK — September 22, 2026
US federal prosecutors are investigating whether cryptocurrency exchange Binance violated sanctions on Iran by allowing certain trading activity on its platform, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The investigation is being led by the Manhattan US attorney's office, with the US Justice Department's criminal division in Washington also involved, according to the report. Authorities are examining whether Binance knowingly allowed the activity.
Binance said it has a zero-tolerance policy toward sanctions violations and cooperates with law enforcement. The company said it remains committed to identifying and shutting down users involved in prohibited activity.
The US Justice Department declined to comment, while the Manhattan US attorney's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
The reported investigation adds to previous US scrutiny of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. In 2023, the company's then-chief executive Changpeng Zhao stepped down and pleaded guilty to violating US anti-money laundering laws as part of a $4.3 billion settlement that resolved a years-long investigation into the exchange.
The latest scrutiny comes as Washington continues to tighten economic pressure on Iran and groups it says support Iranian proxies in the Middle East. Earlier this month, the US imposed sanctions on companies and individuals it accused of supporting Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups.
The reported probe does not establish that Binance violated sanctions or knowingly permitted prohibited transactions. Any potential findings or enforcement action would depend on the outcome of the US investigation.
