Benzinga‘s recent Fintech Deal Day & Awards and Future of Digital Assets conferences created plenty of buzz in the Web3 community. Still, among constructive discussions about the next phase of this industry, “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary’s warning about the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange stands out.
“Just 14 months ago, Binance and FTX were 94% of the market for the new digital economy. Today, just months later, that era is over,” the O’Leary Ventures chairman said in a discussion with Anthony Pompliano.
“FTX is history, and Binance will be history soon,” O’Leary warned Nov. 13.
“Binance will be history soon” Predicted @kevinolearytv at the Fintech Deal Day powered by @Benzinga pic.twitter.com/odJg0SgqQZ
— Benzinga Crypto (@benzingacrypto) November 21, 2023
‘I’ve Seen This Story Before’: O’Leary was not optimistic about the largest crypto exchange getting to the necessary level of compliance.
“FTX was trying to do that, that’s why I was involved with those guys trying to design that compliance element that would plug into an institution. They never got there [and] Binance certainly doesn’t do it,” he said while offering his view on Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.
“We’ve got to be thankful for him because he was a great entrepreneur who started something great, but he’s got multiple charges from money laundering to intermingling accounts. Personally, I’ve seen this story before. It ends really badly and worse for him. No institution is going to give him a dime.”
It took only a week for O’Leary’s predictions to come true. Zhao pleaded guilty Tuesday to anti-money laundering violations, making a deal with the Justice Department. Along with Zhao’s $50-million fine, Binance pleaded guilty to criminal charges and faces a $4.3-billion fine.
The government was well aware that Binance didn’t comply with U.S. regulatory requirements and prioritized growth over compliance.
“I made mistakes, and I must take responsibility. This is best for our community, for Binance, and for myself,” Zhao said in a tweet.
Zhao now faces a sentence of up to 10 years and fines of up to $500,000, plus any profits he made from the alleged scheme. His sentencing will be delayed by six months.
The Last Word: Reflecting on the growth potential for crypto, O’Leary drew parallels…
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