Binance CEO Rejects WSJ $1B Iran Transfer Allegations as ‘Defamatory’ — Key Details So Far

Binance CEO Richard Teng publicly refuted a Wall Street Journal report alleging the exchange terminated an internal investigation into over $1 billion in crypto transfers linked to Iran-backed groups. Teng labeled the claims "inaccurate" and "defamatory" in a LinkedIn post, stating the WSJ failed to incorporate Binance's corrections and demanding a full retraction and apology. The WSJ report claimed that senior executives dismantled the probe after investigators identified a Hong Kong-based payments firm, Blessed Trust, as a primary channel moving crypto to a network allegedly tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Binance countered by asserting its compliance program is the "most rigorous in the industry," claiming a significant reduction in exposure to sanctioned entities since January 2024. This scrutiny follows Binance's 2023 guilty plea to U.S. charges related to sanctions violations and anti-money laundering failures, which led to a $4.3 billion penalty.

(Source：CCN)