Manhattan US Attorney Leads Probe into Binance's Iran Sanctions Compliance

The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office is conducting an investigation into whether Binance, the global cryptocurrency exchange, knowingly permitted trading that breached U.S. sanctions on Iran. The probe follows earlier reports of a Justice Department inquiry first disclosed in March.

Scope of the Investigation

According to Bloomberg, the investigation involves the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in Washington. It is focused on Binance’s compliance practices regarding sanctions on Iran.

Binance’s Response

When asked for comment, a Binance spokesperson told Cointelegraph that the company maintains a zero‑tolerance policy for sanctions violations, fully cooperates with law enforcement, and is committed to shutting down bad actors. The statement did not confirm whether Binance is aware of the current investigation.

Background

In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that the DOJ was examining whether Iran used Binance to evade U.S. sanctions, citing internal documents and sources. At that time, it was unclear if the investigation targeted Binance, its users, or both. Binance previously said it was not aware of any DOJ investigation.

Potential Outcomes

The investigation does not itself establish wrongdoing and may conclude without any charges being filed.