The cited record supports the material proposition.
The US Department of Justice said on 21 November 2023 that Binance pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting and sanctions violations and agreed to pay over US$4 billion.
- Claim made by
- US Department of Justice, regulator statement
- Published
- 21 November 2023
- Evidence score
- 92 How it was scored
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026
Why this label
The DOJ release states the guilty plea, the total of US$4,316,126,163 made up of forfeiture and a criminal fine, and a three year independent monitorS1. It states that Binance willfully caused over US$898 million in trades between US users and users in Iran. The plea is an admission by the company. The pardon recorded on the DOJ clemency list applies to the founder, not to the corporate pleaS2. No record read shows any change to the corporate plea as of October 2026.
Current procedural position
Guilty plea by Binance Holdings Limited announced on 21 November 2023 in the Western District of Washington, with a three year monitorS1S2. No change found as of October 2026.
Record supporting the assessment
a total financial penalty of $4,316,126,163
willfully caused over $898 million in trades between U.S. users and users ordinarily resident in Iran
retain an independent compliance monitor for three years
Conflicting or limiting record
No record located that conflicts with this assessment.
Evidence score: 92 of 100
The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of Binance Holdings Limited. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.
| Component | Points | Max | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition? | 30 | 30 | DOJ is the prosecuting authority. |
| DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts? | 20 | 20 | The release states the plea and the amount. |
| CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point? | 10 | 15 | The DOJ clemency list confirms the related founder case. The plea agreement was not read. |
| Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes? | 14 | 15 | A guilty plea is a concluded criminal resolution. |
| CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments? | 8 | 10 | Searches found the 2025 pardon and SEC dismissal but no change to the corporate plea. |
| ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment? | 10 | 10 | The release is public. |
| Total | 92 | 100 |
Timeline
Related cases
- United States v. Binance Holdings Limited and United States v. Changpeng ZhaoUS Department of Justice and US District Court for the Western District of Washington. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Corporate guilty plea with monitor. Founder sentenced and later pardonedS1S2
Revision history
- Assessment first published with label Supported.
Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.
Sources
- S1Tier A Binance and CEO Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in $4B ResolutionUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. Regulator press release. 21 November 2023.Supports the corporate and founder pleas, the amount and the monitor. It does not cover later events.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier A Litigation Release No. 26316, Binance Holdings Limited, BAM Trading Services Inc., BAM Management US Holdings Inc., Changpeng ZhaoUS Securities and Exchange Commission. Regulator press release. 29 May 2025.Supports the filing date, case number and dismissal with prejudice. It makes no finding on the allegations.
- S2Tier A Clemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025-Present)US Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney. Government press release. 21 October 2025 (entry date).Official list recording the founder's pardon, offence, district and sentence. It does not concern the corporate plea.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
Other claims about Binance Holdings Limited
- Supported94Binance's founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was sentenced to four months in prison, received a US presidential pardon in October 2025.Official report, 21 October 20253 records citedCorporate status
- Outdated89The SEC charged Binance, two Binance.US entities and Binance's founder in June 2023 with violating US securities laws.Regulator statement, 5 June 20233 records citedMarket conduct
- Unresolved58Nigerian authorities charged Binance with tax offences and, with a detained executive, with money laundering in 2024.Press report, 24 October 20244 records citedMoney laundering