In a startling twist of events, Binance Russia has been acquired by a little-known firm named CommEx. One might think everything appears to be straightforward, yet skeptics are voicing concerns about the hush-hush nature of the acquisition.
The pivotal crux is that the identity of the owners remains shrouded in secrecy, although it’s been categorically asserted that the white knight in question is not Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance’s CEO. The reluctance of CommEx to divulge details about its owners is intriguing and has sparked a fair share of pub chat amongst the crypto fraternity.
CommEx, however, insists it is a vibrant, fully independent start-up, free of the reins of Binance. The firm has been hard at work on its platform for the past six months, a period during which they have managed to welcome some ex-Binance employees on board. Undoubtedly, this move has raised some eyebrows, stirring the pot of intrigue as the debate around the ownership issue intensifies.
In the latest bid to assert its autonomous standing, CommEx jumped to clarify that it doesn’t offer services to European and U.S. residents, who will face IP and KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER (KYC) blocks when trying to access CommEx’s platform. This act of self-imposed isolation strongly suggests that CommEx is carving out its own distinct path, separate from that of the crypto giant, Binance.
However, the plot thickens when it transpires that certain aspects of the new start-up mimic those of its alleged former orchestrator. Subtle details in design, APIs, and even terms of use bear a striking resemblance to Binance. Adam Cochran, a partner at venture capital firm Cinneamhain Ventures, is amongst those who argue these mirror images make a case for CommEx’s ownership being an extension of the larger firm.
Conversely, counterarguments have surfaced, suggesting that such a deceptive move would engender more negative publicity for Binance than if it had stayed put in the Russian market.
As it stands, skepticism continues to loom over the story of CommEx and its mysterious owners. The jury is out on whether CommEx truly stands alone or is a merely puppets operated by the puppeteer, Binance. Only time will unravel the truth.
Source: Cointelegraph