Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, is still in the halfway house, and there is much speculation that he has been released. He was recently moved from FCI Lompoc II to RRM Long Beach Halfway House. This procedure is normal for inmates in the last days of their imprisonment, but Zhao is not fully out of prison.
Changpeng Zhao’s Transfer Sparks Early Release Rumors
The recent move of Changpeng Zhao from a federal prison to a halfway house fueled rumors of his early release. Several users of the X platform assumed that he was set free after this action. However, Zhao is still in the RRM Long Beach facility and continues to be under close observation as he continues serving his time.
The halfway house offers inmates a structured society as they reintegrate into society. Even if Changpeng Zhao is no longer in a conventional prison, he is still under the authority of the Bureau of Prisons. This setting permits some liberty, but he has to follow certain guidelines during his probation period.
It is important to note that the date for Changpeng Zhao’s release remains unclear due to an earlier error. At the beginning, he was expected to be released by the end of this month, August. However, since Zhao was arrested in May, his release date has been changed to September 29; thus, he has 38 days left as of the latest information.
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This change has only created more confusion among the public, particularly on social media sites. The change in release to a halfway house and the change in release date made people speculate that he was freed earlier than expected. Nevertheless, reliable sources have come out to refute these claims, stating that Zhao is still under legal supervision.
Binance Faces Legal Action Over Money Laundering
New legal issues emerged during Zhao’s final presidency. On August 16, three traders in the crypto space approached the court with a lawsuit against Zhao and Binance, claiming that the platform helped in money laundering. They argue that Binance’s poor AML and KYC measures allowed criminals to transfer stolen funds through the exchange.
This lawsuit is another legal problem for Changpeng Zhao and Binance, which have already been under the radar of global regulators. The legal pressures may lead to enhanced scrutiny for Binance and impact its business. In response, Binance CEO Richard Teng has assured that the company will increase its efforts to improve its compliance standards.
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Teng added that Binance will enhance its efforts in the compliance department to meet regulators’ requirements. The exchange aims to enhance its compliance department by recruiting more personnel in the future.
Also Read: Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao quits, names Richard Teng his successor
