Who founded Binance?
Binance was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao. He later co-founded it together with Yi He, a colleague from his earlier role as CTO at OKCoin.
Questions about Binance
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where is Binance headquartered?
Binance has no official company headquarters today. It was initially based in China, then moved to Japan, and subsequently left Japan for Malta.
How much did Binance pay in its 2023 US settlement?
On the 21st of November 2023, Binance pled guilty to violating US anti-money laundering rules and paid a $4.3 billion fine.
Why did President Trump pardon Binance founder Changpeng Zhao?
President Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao on the 23rd of October 2025. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Zhao had been the victim of persecution by the Biden administration.
What is Binance's BNB token and how did it get its name?
BNB is the token used to pay trading fees on Binance's platform. It launched in July 2017 as Binance Coin and was renamed Build'N'Build in February 2022, when Binance Smart Chain was also renamed BNB Chain.
What is Binance being investigated for in 2026?
In March 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported that Binance was under investigation by the US Department of Justice for allegedly helping Iran-backed groups, including the Houthis, evade sanctions.