DOJ probes Binance again over Iran-linked crypto flows after $4.3B settlement and CZ pardon

The Justice Department is reportedly investigating Binance regarding alleged sanctions evasion involving Iran-linked cryptocurrency flows, bringing the exchange back under national security scrutiny shortly after its $4.3 billion U.S. settlement and the pardon of founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ).

This new probe reportedly focuses on activity flagged internally by Binance investigators, including over $1 billion tied to Blessed Trust. Binance disputes these claims, asserting its review found no sanctions violations, that implicated entities were offboarded, and that no Iran-based entities transacted directly on the platform; the company has also filed a defamation suit over the coverage.

The core issue is whether Binance’s post-settlement controls are robust enough to detect and stop activity linked to Iran, testing the credibility it has tried to rebuild. While market indicators currently show no panic, a significant user balance migration—potentially billions of dollars—could occur if trust erodes. The broader enforcement context includes recent Treasury designations of other exchanges tied to Iranian sanctions evasion, suggesting regulators are focused on crypto settlement networks, stablecoins, and chain-specific corridors like TRON.

(Source：CryptoSlate)