Will the Binance.US CEO's Resignation Trigger a Domino Effect?
Luisa Crawford Sep 13, 2023 09:45
Binance.US, the American subsidiary of the global cryptocurrency exchange, has experienced significant staffing changes, including the departure of CEO Brian Shroder and the elimination of around 100 positions. The company is also facing legal actions from the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as well as a decline in market share. The cryptocurrency community is concerned about the future of Binance and its potential demise, with WhaleWire warning of a larger explosion than FTX's.
Staffing and Executive Changes
Binance.US, the American subsidiary of the global cryptocurrency exchange, has recently undergone significant staffing changes. The company confirmed the departure of its president and CEO, Brian Shroder, who had joined the firm in September 2021. This move has raised questions in the industry about whether Shroder's exit could trigger a "domino effect," leading to further high-profile departures or changes. Alongside Shroder's exit, approximately 100 positions, or a third of the company's workforce, have been eliminated. Chief Legal Officer Norman Reed has stepped in as the interim replacement for Shroder.
A spokeswoman for Binance.US claimed in a statement that the company's recent moves were motivated by the SEC's aggressive attempts to cripple our industry, highlighting the negative effects on innovation and real-world jobs in the United States. The company's commitment to its clients and its goal to secure "more than seven years of financial runway" while it switches to a crypto-only exchange model were both further reaffirmed by the spokesperson.
Regulatory Issues
Binance, Binance.US, and the exchange's co-founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao are the targets of legal actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The accusations include running an unauthorized exchange, offering unregistered securities, breaking the law on commodities, and misusing client cash. In reaction to these regulatory constraints, Binance.US temporarily stopped all fiat withdrawal channels and froze dollar deposits on June 9.
Binance faces heightened regulatory scrutiny globally. Recently, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) conducted a search at Binance Australia's offices, probing its now-defunct local derivatives business. This comes after Binance Australia's derivatives operation license was revoked in April. Additionally, on May 18, 2023, Binance halted PayID AUD deposits due to third-party payment provider issues. European regulators, including Belgium's FSMA and Germany's Bafin, have also posed challenges for the crypto giant.
A decline in market share
According to Reuters, Binance.US's market share has showen a dramatic decline. Market share for the exchange in the United States fell precipitously from over 22% in April to roughly 0.9% by June 26. The fact that Binance.US's worldwide market share has also dropped recently, from 2.39% to just 0.6%, emphasizes this reduction even more. According to reports, the company's trading volume is less than estimates from early 2020.
Community Responses
The future of Binance and Binance.US has become a source of considerable concern for the cryptocurrency community. An influential Twitter account in the cryptocurrency world named WhaleWire expressed grave concerns regarding Binance's future. He even used analogies to warn that Binance's possible demise would eclipse even FTX's.
Binance is a complete disaster.
When 95% of your executives resign in the span of a year, you know something isn’t right…
They will eventually blow up, and have an even larger explosion than FTX. Don’t be surprised when it happens.
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