Crypto markets mixed as traders digest DOJ action against Binance, CZ
Crypto markets were subjected to a heavy dose of volatility on Nov. 21 as the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and U.S. Treasury announced a $4.3-billion settlement with Binance and that former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao will plead guilty to one felony charge as part of a settlement over criminal and civil cases with the cryptocurrency exchange.
United States Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the DOJ reached a $4.3 billion resolution with Binance and CZ. The agreement required CZ to plead guilty to willfully violating the Bank Secrecy Act.
In addition to the financial penalties, Garland stated,
“Moving forward, Binance must file the suspicious activity reports that were required by law. The company is required to review past transactions and report suspicious activity to federal authorities. This will advance our criminal investigations into malicious cyber activity and terrorism fundraising, including the use of cryptocurrency exchanges to support groups such as Hamas.”
At the time of publishing, price action within the crypto market continues to fluctuate, with Bitcoin (BTC) registering a 1.79% loss as it trades near $36,700 and altcoins reflect a slight recovery from their intraday losses.
The whipsaw price action within the market reflects market participants’ attempt to digest the details of the Nov. 21 U.S. enforcement action against the cryptocurrency industry.
While the crypto market doesn’t have an opening bell like Wall Street, market participants and traders were broadly aware of the settlement, and prices had already reacted before the press conference by Garland, with Binance Coin (BNB) whipsawing to a 5-month high before retracing the majority of its gains and before the press conference even occurred.
Related: BNB price pops, then drops, following news of DOJ-Binance settlement
Despite the negative news regarding Binance, the exchanges’ users are not rushing to exit the platform or from centralized exchanges in general. According to Glassnode, the net Bitcoin position change on Binance is far below January and July numbers.
Despite the negative reporting, the crypto community is cheering on the decision as closing a chapter and hopeful that the entire industry can move forward in a positive manner.
Binance derisking is one of the biggest catalysts we could have in crypto.
+ Crypto is a “real” industry post $4 billion settlement
+ CZ takes a long-needed Miami vacation a la Arthur
+ Market rips higher, ETFs approved in Jan
+ GOP wins 2024 election, crypto laws passedCZ
— Ryan Selkis (d/acc) (@twobitidiot) November 21, 2023
Binance exchange, which named Richard Teng CEO on Nov. 21 following CZ’s resignation, reiterated the crypto community sentiment on moving forward.
We’re pleased to share we’ve reached resolution with several US agencies related to their investigations.
This allows us to turn the page on a challenging yet transformative chapter of learning that has helped us become stronger, safer, and an even more secure platform.
— Binance (@binance) November 21, 2023
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
US President Donald Trump says he will review the case of convicted Samourai Wallet developer Keonne Rodriguez, hinting he will explore the possibility of a pardon.
Samourai Wallet co-founders Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill were sentenced on Nov. 19 to five and four years in prison on charges stemming from their involvement in the crypto mixing protocol.
“I’ve heard about it, I’ll look at it,” Trump said when asked about the case at a press conference about the Mexican border at the White House on Monday.
“Okay, let’s take a look at it. You know, you’ll have to tell me. I don’t know anything about it, but we’ll take a look,” he added.
Privacy advocates and crypto users have long been advocating for Rodriguez and Hill, along with Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, arguing they shouldn’t be held responsible for the actions of third parties using their software.
Samourai co-founder says “noise is working”
Rodriguez, who is due to start his time behind bars this week, said in an X post on Monday that the “continued noise” from supporters is working. “Thank you to everyone pushing Donald Trump to pardon Bill and me. Let’s get this over the line.”
In an interview with Bitcoin educator Natalie Brunell on Friday, Rodriguez said he thought there was a chance of receiving a pardon if the case were presented to Trump and the top officials in the administration.
I appreciate @keonne taking some tough questions on the Samourai Wallet case. No topic was off limits.
Keonne is getting ready to report to prison on December 19th but there is an active movement to #PardonSamourai, and Keonne hopes President Trump hears his story.
If you care… pic.twitter.com/iXg3BXr8iq
— Natalie Brunell ⚡️ (@natbrunell) December 12, 2025
“Because President Trump has been touched by a DOJ that was weaponized against him, I think when he sees the facts laid out on the table, he will know exactly what’s going on,” Rodriguez said.
Conventional appeal is unlikely
Rodriguez also said it’s his understanding he waived his right to appeal the sentence when he took the plea deal, adding that he’s not “100% on that, but my understanding is appeal is pretty unlikely.”
Rodriguez and Hill initially pleaded not guilty but then agreed to plead guilty to one charge of operating an illegal money transmitter in July.
They faced at least 25 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, which carries a sentence of up to five years.
Up until the sentencing hearing, Rodriguez said he regretted pleading guilty but feared the judge wouldn’t allow key evidence to be used in his defense, such as receiving legal advice before launching Samourai Wallet.
Related: After Samourai, DOJ’s money-transmitter theory now looms over crypto mixers
After crunching the numbers, he also found a “conviction means 25 years, even if you appeal, that you’re sitting in prison for five years waiting for your appeal, your appeal is going to cost you another $7 million on top of the four and a half million you’ve already spent to get to this point. So the numbers just didn’t make any sense.”
Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, Ross Ulbricht
Since taking office, Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao in October, after he pleaded guilty in November 2023 to failing to maintain an effective Anti–Money Laundering program at Binance, in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act.
Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the defunct darknet marketplace the Silk Road, was also granted a presidential pardon on his life sentence in January.
Magazine: Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years, Bitcoin’s ‘choppy dance’: Hodler’s Digest, Dec. 7 – 13
Politics
Angela Rayner calls on MPs to sit ‘through the night’ to get workers’ rights bill through parliament
Angela Rayner has issued an angry call to MPs to sit “through the night” to stop hereditary peers delaying her flagship employment rights bill.
In an outburst at the start of the latest “ping pong” between the Lords and Commons, she said: “What’s wrong with protecting people from unfair dismissal?”
The former deputy prime minister hit out at the delaying tactics of the House of Lords, with the clock ticking only days before parliament’s Christmas recess.
The bill now goes back to the Lords on Tuesday, when ministers hope peers will drop their opposition so the bill can receive royal assent by the time parliament rises on Thursday.
Ms Rayner’s attack on hereditary peers followed a government defeat in the Lords by 24 votes last week, just days before Sir Keir Starmer created 25 new Labour peers.
“What message does this send to the British public, when 33 hereditary peers have tried to defeat the government by 24 votes on a manifesto promise on sick pay, for example, which will miss the deadline for April for some of the lowest earners from some of the wealthiest?” she declared.
“Shouldn’t we get on, go through the night if we have to, and get this bill passed?”
And employment minister Kate Dearden told MPs: “We have been in ping pong for far too long, and further delay is not in anyone’s best interest.”
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Rayner makes speech on Employment Rights Bill
At the end of an hour-long debate, MPs voted by 311 votes to 96, a majority of 215, to remove a cap on unfair dismissal compensation, overturning a vote in the Lords last week.
In its attempts to get the bill through the Lords, ministers have abandoned day one protection against unfair dismissal and, after a deal with trade unions, replaced it with a six-month qualifying period.
But at the same time the government introduced an 11th hour measure to scrap compensation caps for unfair dismissal, which is currently 52 weeks’ pay or £118,223, whichever is lower.
Read more: Starmer insists budget leaks and leadership speculation did not come from him
Tory MP Andrew Griffith attacked plans to lift a compensation cap. Pic: PA
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith, who has led Tory opposition to the bill, attacked the removal of a cap.
“It wasn’t in the manifesto, it wasn’t in the bill, it wasn’t in the impact assessment,” he protested.
Earlier, in a boost for the government, six business groups urged peers to back down and end the parliamentary “ping pong” between the Commons and the Lords.
The groups, including the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), fear the six-month unfair dismissal compromise agreed with the unions could be at risk.
“To avoid losing the six-month qualifying period, we therefore believe that now is the time for parliament to pass the bill,” they urged in a letter to Business Secretary Peter Kyle.
Mr Kyle said “all parties… have made difficult but necessary compromises to bring this bill forward” and urged “everyone” to recognise business groups and trade unions want it passed “without further delay”.
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