Binance

2017-07-01

Binance launched via ICO, raising a disputed amount between $5M and $15M. BNB token issued on Ethereum.

2019-05-07

Hackers stole 7,074 BTC (~$40.7M) from Binance hot wallet. Losses covered by SAFU fund.

2019-08-01

KYC data of up to 60,000 Binance users leaked from third-party vendor. Blackmailer demanded 300 BTC (~$3.5M).

2022-10-06

BNB Chain cross-chain bridge exploited via forged Merkle proof, allowing attacker to mint ~2M BNB (~$570M). Approximately $100M unrecovered.

2022-11-06

CZ tweets that Binance will liquidate its $580M FTT holdings, triggering a $6B bank run on FTX over 72 hours.

2022-11-11

FTX files for bankruptcy after Binance backs out of acquisition. Binance trading volumes surge approximately 30%.

2023-02-13

NYDFS orders Paxos to cease minting BUSD. SEC issues Wells notice to Paxos over BUSD as alleged unregistered security.

2023-06-05

SEC files 13-count civil lawsuit against Binance Holdings, BAM Trading, BAM Management, and CZ, alleging unregistered securities operations, wash trading, and customer fund mishandling.

2023-11-21

Binance pleads guilty to BSA, unlicensed money transmission, and IEEPA violations. CZ resigns as CEO and pleads guilty personally. $4.3B combined penalty agreed across DOJ, CFTC, FinCEN, and OFAC.

2023-11-29

Binance announces it will cease all support for BUSD stablecoin on December 15, 2023.

2024-02-25

Binance compliance executive Tigran Gambaryan detained by Nigerian authorities on money laundering charges. Denied bail and sent to Kuje Prison.

2024-04-30

U.S. District Judge Richard Jones sentences CZ to four months in federal prison, rejecting the DOJ's request for a three-year term.

2024-05-09

Wall Street Journal reports Binance fired its head of market surveillance after he submitted internal report alleging $300M wash trading by VIP client DWF Labs. Binance disputes the characterization.

2024-06-03

CZ begins serving four-month sentence at federal facility in California.

2024-09-27

CZ released from federal custody after completing four-month sentence.

2024-10-24

Nigeria drops charges against Tigran Gambaryan; he is released after eight months of detention and departs Nigeria for medical treatment.

2025-02-11

SEC and Binance jointly move to pause the 2023 civil lawsuit, signaling potential resolution under Trump administration.

2025-05-29

SEC files to dismiss with prejudice its 13-count lawsuit against Binance, BAM Trading, and CZ under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.

2025-10-23

President Donald Trump grants a full presidential pardon to Changpeng Zhao. Congressional Democrats and bipartisan critics condemn the pardon.

2025-11-25

306 families of October 7, 2023 attack victims sue Binance, CZ, and executive Guangying Chen under the Anti-Terrorism Act, alleging Binance knowingly facilitated over $1B in transactions for Hamas, Hezbollah, IRGC, and PIJ.

2025-12-08

Binance secures three full regulatory licenses from Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), covering exchange, clearing, and brokerage operations under entity names Nest Exchange, Nest Clearing, and Nest Trading.

2026-02-12

Binance converts its $1B SAFU emergency insurance fund from stablecoins into approximately 15,000 BTC.

2026-03-11

U.S. Department of Justice opens new investigation into whether Iran used Binance to circumvent U.S. sanctions, following Fortune report of over $1.7B transferred to Iran-linked entities.

2026-04-17

Senator Blumenthal presses DOJ and Treasury on status of Binance compliance monitors amid Iran sanctions concerns. Treasury tightens pressure on Binance regarding potential violations.