The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, is under fire after firing an employee who reported potential market manipulation by DWF Labs, a major VIP customer.
Binance accused of covering up market manipulation by DWF Labs
According to a explosive article in Wall Street Journal, Binance would have fired the head of its market surveillance team after he brought to light the manipulative activities of DWF Labs, a major player in the cryptocurrency sector.
The internal investigation carried out by this employee and his team reportedly revealed that DWF Labs had engaged in illegal practices such as pump and dump and wash trading on several altcoins, generating over $300 million in profits by 2023.
Such practices are contrary to the conditions of use of Binance and raise serious regulatory issues. In traditional financial markets, they would expose their authors to heavy penalties.
This affair has created a stir internally at Binance. The head of the VIP department is reported to have publicly criticized the decision to suspend DWF Labs following the findings of the survey.
Shortly afterwards, the Binance expressed doubts about the strength of the evidence provided, pointing to possible bias on the part of the head of the market surveillance team. The latter is said to have close links with several direct competitors of DWF Labs.
It is in this context that Binance has finally taken the controversial decision to fire the whistleblower behind the revelations. A decision that raises questions about the platform’s real commitment to shedding light on these serious accusations and protecting the integrity of its market.
Binance denies all allegations and assures zero tolerance
In the face of controversy, Binance vigorously denied any complacency towards market manipulation. In a tweet, the platform asserts that it applies “strict surveillance” and has “zero tolerance for market abuse”.
Binance claims to have excluded no fewer than 355,000 users, representing a transaction volume of $2,500 billion for violating its terms of use. But without giving any further details on the nature of these infringements.
For its part, DWF Labs strongly contests the Wall Street Journal calling them “misinterpretations without supporting evidence”. The company says it will cooperate fully with any investigations into the matter.
These serious allegations against Binance, the world’s number one cryptocurrency exchange, cast doubt on its integrity and ability to self-regulate effectively.
The stakes are high for Binance, which derives much of its revenue from VIP customers such as DWF Labs. These major players account for up to two-thirds of the platform’s volumes.
This latest scandal comes at a time when regulators around the world are scrutinizing the cryptocurrency industry. Accusations of market manipulation are nothing new for Binance. In Nigeria, the platform was suspected of manipulating the price of the Naira, leading to the arrest of two of its local managers.
As a journalist at Coinpri, I’ve been captivated by the world of bitcoin and blockchain since 2020. The decentralized aspect of Bitcoin particularly piqued my interest. Since then, I’ve been working constantly to spread my knowledge, hoping one day to see a world where everyone fully enjoys their financial freedom.
