Binance Holdings Ltd.

Binance is the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange and a leading blockchain ecosystem, founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao. Its mission is to be the infrastructure provider for the crypto world, aiming to increase the freedom of money globally and make digital assets accessible to everyone. While initially based in China and having moved through several jurisdictions, Binance currently states it has no official company headquarters, though Binance Holdings Ltd. was registered in George Town, Cayman Islands.

The company offers a comprehensive suite of products and services, including spot, margin, and futures trading for hundreds of cryptocurrencies, a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, and various earning opportunities through Binance Earn and staking. Beyond its exchange, Binance's ecosystem includes Binance Pay, Binance Card, Binance Launchpad for new token projects, educational resources via Binance Academy, and its native blockchain, BNB Chain. It targets a broad global audience, from individual crypto enthusiasts to institutional investors.

In November 2023, Binance faced significant regulatory scrutiny, pleading guilty to U.S. anti-money laundering and sanctions violations, resulting in a $4.3 billion fine, and founder Changpeng Zhao resigned as CEO. Richard Teng succeeded Zhao as CEO, with Yi He serving as Co-CEO. Despite regulatory challenges, Binance maintains its position as the largest cryptocurrency exchange globally by trading volume and user count, demonstrating strong market leadership in both spot and derivatives trading.