Manhattan US Attorney Office leads probe into Binance's Iran sanctions compliance
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating whether Binance knowingly allowed Iran-linked trading that violated US sanctions, Bloomberg reported, with the DOJ Criminal Division also involved.
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Why it matters
The investigation adds to Binance's existing legal exposure: its 2023 settlement covered only the conduct in its Statement of Facts and, TheNewsCrypto noted, does not protect the exchange against prosecution for other conduct. Bitcoin Insider reported that sanctions cases handled through US Attorney's offices can carry significant financial penalties and, in some instances, personal liability for executives.
Where the sources disagree
Whether the reporting describes a fresh probe or new detail on an earlier one
a fresh US DOJ investigation
CoinGape
new details about an existing Justice Department investigation first reported in March
Cointelegraph
CoinGape frames the story as a fresh US DOJ investigation, while Cointelegraph says the Bloomberg report provides new details about a Justice Department investigation first reported in March.
Key facts
The Manhattan US Attorney's Office is leading an investigation into whether Binance knowingly allowed trading that violated US sanctions on Iran.
Reported by Cointelegraph
The Justice Department's Criminal Division in Washington is also involved in the investigation.
Reported by Cointelegraph
Bloomberg reported the probe on September 22, citing people familiar with the matter.
Reported by Cointelegraph
Binance said it has a zero-tolerance policy for sanctions violations, fully cooperates with law enforcement and is 'committed to rooting out and shutting down bad actors.'
Reported by Cointelegraph
The specific transactions under scrutiny have not been publicly identified.
Reported by TheNewsCrypto
In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that the DOJ was examining whether Iran used Binance to evade sanctions, and Binance said at the time it was not aware of any DOJ investigation.
Reported by Cointelegraph
Binance's 2023 settlement covered IEEPA sanctions violations tied to roughly $898 million in US-Iran trades between 2018 and May 2022, cost $4.3 billion and imposed a three-year compliance monitor.
4,300,000,000 USDReported by TheNewsCrypto
Last week the DOJ said it was seizing and seeking to forfeit about $61 million in cryptocurrency that it alleges came from the black-market sale of sanctioned Iranian oil laundered through Binance by Chinese entities.
61,000,000 USDReported by Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
What happened
Bloomberg reported on September 22, citing people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified, that the Manhattan US Attorney's Office is investigating whether Binance knowingly allowed trading that violated US sanctions on Iran, with the Justice Department's Criminal Division in Washington also involved. Cointelegraph, CoinGape, CoinDesk, Protos and Bitcoin Magazine carried the report. The specific transactions under scrutiny have not been publicly identified, and Cointelegraph noted that an investigation does not establish wrongdoing and may conclude without charges. Binance said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sanctions violations, cooperates fully with law enforcement and is 'committed to rooting out and shutting down bad actors.' CoinGape reported that co-CEO Richard Teng publicly distanced the exchange from a related civil forfeiture case in the days before, and Bitcoin Insider said Teng reportedly pushed back against the allegations without detailing his rebuttal. The probe adds detail to a Justice Department investigation that the Wall Street Journal first reported in March, when Binance told Cointelegraph it was not aware of any DOJ investigation.
How the story developed
- First report
First report by Cointelegraph
Manhattan US Attorney leading probe into Binance’s Iran compliance: Bloomberg
- Update
Wall Street Journal reports DOJ examining whether Iran used Binance to evade sanctions
Binance said at that time it was not aware of any DOJ investigation.
- Official statement
Binance says it has a zero-tolerance policy for sanctions violations
The statement did not directly address whether Binance is aware of the reported investigation.
- Update
Bloomberg reports the Manhattan US Attorney's Office leads the investigation
The Justice Department's Criminal Division in Washington is also involved.
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by CoinGape
Binance Under Fresh US DOJ Probe for Iran Sanctions After Richard Teng Pushes Back
- Update
DOJ moves to seize about $61 million in cryptocurrency allegedly linked to sanctioned Iranian oil sales
The DOJ alleged the proceeds were laundered through Binance accounts.
- Update
Binance sues Wall Street Journal for defamation over the Iran reporting
- Update
CoinGape, CoinDesk, Protos and Bitcoin Magazine publish independent coverage of the Bloomberg report
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 22 Sept 2026, 02:22 UTC: Cointelegraph — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 22 Sept 2026, 06:35 UTC: CoinGape — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 22 Sept 2026, 06:37 UTC: Bitcoin Insider — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 22 Sept 2026, 06:41 UTC: TheNewsCrypto — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 22 Sept 2026, 10:07 UTC: CoinDesk — 5 independent sources, 5 reports
- 22 Sept 2026, 13:39 UTC: Protos — 6 independent sources, 7 reports
- 22 Sept 2026, 16:52 UTC: Bitcoin Magazine — 7 independent sources, 8 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: Changpeng Zhao, Donald Trump, United Arab Emirates, U.S. Congress, Russia
Original sources
| Publisher | Report | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cointelegraph Crypto media | Manhattan US Attorney leading probe into Binance’s Iran compliance: Bloomberg | Original | |
| CoinDesk Crypto media | Binance probed by U.S. federal prosecutors for sanctions violations: Bloomberg | Independent | |
| Protos Crypto media | Binance faces second probe over Iran-linked billions | Independent | |
| Bitcoin Magazine Crypto media | Feds Probing Binance Over Iran’s Bitcoin Use: Report | Independent | |
| CoinGape Crypto media | Binance Under Fresh US DOJ Probe for Iran Sanctions After Richard Teng Pushes Back | Independent | |
| TheNewsCrypto Crypto media | Binance Faces Fresh U.S. Scrutiny Over Potential Iran Sanctions Breach | Syndicated | |
| Bitcoin Insider Aggregator | Binance’s Iran Sanctions Compliance Faces New Scrutiny From Manhattan Prosecutors, Bloomberg Says | Syndicated | |
| Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) Aggregator | US Justice Department Takes Action: “Binance’s Iran Transactions Under Investigation!” What Does This Mean for Binance? Here Are the Details | Syndicated |
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