Binance is once again at the center of global crypto policymaking—this time as a strategic adviser to sovereign governments. Binance is reportedly helping governments shape crypto regulations and build strategic Bitcoin reserves.
The push marks a dramatic turn in Binance’s trajectory following its 2023 guilty plea to U.S. criminal charges related to money laundering and sanctions violations. The company paid over $4.3 billion in penalties and saw the departure of co-founder and then-CEO Changpeng Zhao, who served four months in federal prison. Since then, under the leadership of Richard Teng, Binance has aggressively repositioned itself as a compliant and collaborative player in global finance.
- “We have been approached by quite a lot of countries,” Teng said in an interview with Financial Times, adding that Binance is actively helping them develop regulatory frameworks for digital assets.
- While he declined to name the countries, Teng confirmed the firm is also assisting governments in setting up sovereign digital asset reserves.
U.S. Strategic Pivot Sparks Global Interest
Binance’s expanded role comes amid a seismic shift in U.S. crypto policy under President Donald Trump. Last month, Trump issued an executive order to establish a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, triggering renewed international interest in state-level crypto adoption.
“Compared to many other jurisdictions, [the US] are way ahead on that front,” Teng said, pointing to Washington’s regulatory framework and efforts to formalize crypto asset reserves. However, the executive order stopped short of large-scale bitcoin acquisitions, noting the reserve would consist only of assets forfeited to law enforcement. The U.S. government currently holds approximately $17.1 billion worth of cryptocurrencies, primarily stored on Coinbase, according to Arkham Intelligence.
Although the order initially disappointed crypto traders, who had hoped for substantial government purchases, analysts say the symbolic value of legitimizing Bitcoin at the federal level is still significant.
Binance’s Regulatory Rehabilitation
Since Teng took over as CEO in late 2023, Binance has undertaken a sweeping internal overhaul to align with international compliance standards. Nearly 25% of its 6,000 employees now work in compliance roles, and the exchange is under a five-year U.S. monitoring program administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
France, however, continues to investigate Binance for alleged breaches of European anti-money laundering laws between 2019 and 2024. The company has denied wrongdoing and vowed to “vigorously fight any charges made against it.”
Still, Teng insists the company’s standing with regulators has improved markedly. “We are now in a form and shape that regulators appreciate much more compared to the past,” he said.
That transformation is beginning to show results. Earlier this month, both Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan announced that Zhao—still an influential figure in crypto—has begun advising them on blockchain integration and regulatory policy. Binance, meanwhile, remains actively engaged with additional sovereign wealth funds on potential crypto reserve strategies.
Bitcoin Reserve as Geopolitical Hedge
The concept of a national bitcoin reserve has gained traction among some emerging market economies seeking alternatives to traditional fiat reserves. Advocates liken Bitcoin to “digital gold,” arguing that its decentralized and finite nature makes it a hedge against inflation, currency devaluation, and geopolitical uncertainty.
“The return of Donald Trump has catalyzed these conversations globally,” said Rena Shah, a crypto policy strategist. “The U.S. legitimizing a bitcoin reserve, even partially, sends a powerful message to countries exploring non-dollar alternatives.”
While the Biden administration pursued a more cautious regulatory approach to digital assets, Trump has embraced crypto as a geopolitical tool. Notably, the SEC paused its investigation into Binance’s U.S. affiliate following Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. Teng said both parties are now “working through to a potential resolution.”
Binance’s Evolving Strategy
In another strategic pivot, Binance is reportedly close to announcing plans for a permanent global headquarters—an idea that would have been unthinkable under Zhao, who famously championed a decentralized organizational model. “It requires serious deliberation,” Teng said, noting that senior leadership is actively evaluating several jurisdictions.
The move is widely seen as a bid to restore trust and legitimacy with global regulators. Binance has long faced criticism for operating without a clear home base, which critics say contributed to its regulatory lapses.
Adding to its newfound political capital, Binance’s blockchain infrastructure is expected to power the upcoming World Liberty Financial stablecoin project, backed by the Trump family. The project, described by insiders as a digital dollar alternative aligned with U.S. conservative values, is expected to leverage Binance’s extensive ecosystem to distribute the coin globally.
Compliance is Helping Crypto Currency
Rory Doyle, head of financial crime policy at Fenergo, said that recent global reforms—including those from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—are forcing crypto firms to evolve.
“Money laundering is a $2 trillion-to-$3 trillion a year business, and crypto is getting into line,” he said. “It’s just starting not to be worth being negligent in your procedures.”
For Binance, that evolution could be the difference between regulatory exile and diplomatic relevance. As the firm positions itself as a key player in nation-state crypto policy, the stakes have never been higher.
Whether Binance’s international consulting efforts are a reputational reboot or a sincere effort to help architect the future of sovereign crypto infrastructure remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the exchange, once under siege, is now influencing how governments think about crypto currency.
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Image Credits: Business Standard, Canva
