Binance’s CZ slams $1B Iran sanction allegations as ‘paid FUD’

Binance’s change troubles are removed from resolved. The platform now faces allegations of a compliance lapse, the identical sort of subject that beforehand led to a $4 billion high-quality and the jailing of its founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), in 2024.

In accordance with a Fortune report, Binance fired investigators who reportedly discovered proof of $1 billion transactions in 2025 linked to sanctioned Iranian entities on the platform.

However the change has distanced itself from the report, with CZ calling it ‘paid FUD’ or the work of an ‘sad’ ex-employee. 

Supply: X

Equally, the present Binance CEO, Richard Teng, called the report ‘irresponsible’ however added that compliance is a unending effort. 

“That is particularly so with the rising sophistication by unhealthy actors using instruments and methods to keep away from detection. We’ll proceed our tireless efforts to battle illicit crimes and uphold world integrity.”

Iran crypto booms draw U.S. scrutiny

Curiously, Binance’s 2023 plea deal allowed the Division of Justice (DoJ) to determine impartial compliance monitoring on the platform for as much as 3 years (scheduled to finish in 2027). 

Nevertheless, the reported $1 billion in Iranian transfers appeared to have slipped by the cracks. In 2025, TRM Labs, a blockchain safety agency, established that Iran acquired over $10 billion in crypto.

And half of this was linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the armed army arm of the present regime. The continuing geopolitical tensions and native social unrest pressured each Iranian residents and the federal government to go for crypto.

In accordance with TRM Labs’ Ari Redbord, the U.S. Treasury was involved in regards to the surge in Iranian crypto exercise and evasion of the imposed sanctions. 

It stays unclear whether or not the U.S. Treasury or the DoJ will comply with up on the alleged Binance violations.

Affect on the change 

Regardless of the replace, the change remained comparatively secure, with no panic outflows. Over the previous few days, the change noticed some outflows amid market volatility. 

Nevertheless, its BTC reserves have surged from 651K BTC to 666K BTC, underscoring that investor confidence within the platform remained sturdy, as of press time. 

Supply: CryptoQuant

Equally, Binance’s native token, BNB, remained comparatively secure however struggled to carry above $600 amid broader market weak point. 

Closing Abstract

• Binance’s CZ slammed the Iranian claims as a ‘paid FUD,’ sustaining the change runs a number of third-party anti-money laundering (AML) instruments. 
• Iran’s crypto exercise elevated to $10 billion, with half of the transfers pushed by the federal government.