"Binance Founder Fights to Leave U.S. Amidst Legal Battle and Crypto Turmoil"

Binance, once the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, and its CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) have pled guilty to criminal charges in the United States. This development marks a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency industry, as it signals the prosecution of major crypto-criminals and paves the way for legitimate businesses to thrive. The settlement agreement requires Binance to pay a record-breaking $4.3 billion penalty and undergo a five-year monitorship, which includes a complete exit from the United States. The future of Binance and its customer base remains uncertain, as the company must now navigate increased scrutiny and address outstanding charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Despite the negative impact on Binance, the price of Bitcoin rallied, suggesting that the digital asset class may be entering a new phase.