The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently requested a temporary restraining order to freeze assets connected to Binance.US. This move seems necessary to the SEC, as the filing indicates concerns over the safety of customer assets and the need for legal action against the company. The SEC has sued Binance.US, Binance Global, and Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao for alleged compliance and control failures.
These claims go as far as to suggest that companies tied to Zhao have secretly accessed funds belonging to Binance.US customers. In response to these allegations, Binance primarily emphasizes customer asset security but the situation brings forth some doubts on the matter.
On one hand, the SEC’s action to freeze assets can be seen as a necessary precaution in the absence of proper compliance within the company. The filing highlights years of “violative conduct” and a disregard for United States law, raising red flags about the safety of customer funds. Preliminary injunctions, asset freezes, and other measures would make certain that assets are secured and untampered with while the situation is being dealt with.
In addition, the SEC filing also seeks an order directing defendants to repatriate assets held for the benefit of BAM customers, and an order prohibiting the defendants from destroying records tied to the case. If the restraining order is granted, only Binance.US would have access to customer funds, and within 30 days, all customer assets would be transferred to new wallets under the sole control of Binance.US.
On the other hand, Binance claims that user funds on their platforms, including Binance.US, are safe and secure. The company is prepared to vigorously defend against the allegations made by the SEC. This stance may present a way to gain customer trust, by showing that they are confident in their ability to secure their assets and are ready to fight for them in court.
Nevertheless, the situation creates a sense of apprehension for those who have their assets tied to Binance.US. Whether the SEC’s request for a temporary restraining order will be granted is still undecided. Customers, investors, and the cryptocurrency community now face uncertainty and divided opinions regarding the safety of their investments with Binance.US amid these allegations that could potentially have broader implications for future regulations in the industry.
Source: Coindesk
