The SEC’s investigation, which has been underway since June, initially targeted Binance for allegedly operating an illegal securities exchange. The recent troubles for Binance.US have been compounded by an admission from CEO Changpeng Zhao, who acknowledged shortcomings in the exchange’s anti-money laundering (AML) measures and compliance with sanctions laws.

Despite these admissions, the Justice Department has not charged Binance.US or its executives with misappropriating client funds.

The SEC’s increased scrutiny of Binance.US signals a broader push by regulators to ensure cryptocurrency platforms operate within legal and regulatory frameworks, especially concerning safeguarding client assets.

The outcome of the SEC’s investigation into Binance.US could have significant implications for the cryptocurrency industry, particularly on how exchanges manage and control their customers’ assets.