The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly appointed a London-based consulting firm to serve as an outside monitor for Binance after the world’s largest crypto exchange pleaded guilty to violating US anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and sanctions laws.
People familiar with the matter but wanted to remain anonymous say the DOJ has selected Forensic Risk Alliance (FRA) for the three-year monitorship of Binance over the previous frontrunner, New York-based law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, reports Bloomberg.
One of the conditions of Binance’s plea deal in November is the appointment of an independent firm to monitor its compliance. The newly appointed monitor will have access to Binance’s internal records, facilities and employees to report on the crypto exchange’s activities to the government.
Sullivan & Cromwell used to be the leading contender for the lucrative role, but controversies over its ties with defunct crypto exchange FTX and its alleged failure to detect the fraud perpetrated by the firm’s convicted co-founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, reportedly prompted the Justice Department to review other options.
But Sullivan & Cromwell is still expected to get the appointment for a separate five-year Binance monitorship on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
FRA, which specializes in forensic accounting, data governance and compliance consulting services, previously worked with Switzerland-based trading company Gunvor SA to negotiate a $661 million settlement with the DOJ over a bribery case involving Ecuadorian officials.
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