DOOKV US DOJ seeks 36 months’ imprisonment for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

U.S. prosecutors are seeking 36 months of imprisonment for Changpeng Zhao, founder and former chief executive of Binance, according to a Tuesday filing.

“Zhao’s willful violation of U.S. law was no accident or oversight,” the Department of Justice said in the filing. “He made a business decision that violating U.S. law was the best way to attract users, build his company, and line his pockets.”

“The United States recommends that the Court impose an above-Guidelines sentence of 36 months of imprisonment,” the DOJ added.

In November, Zhao pleaded guilty in the U.S. to anti-money laundering and sanctions violations, and has agreed to pay a $50 million fine and stepped down from his chief executive post. Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion in one of the largest corporate …