Binance.US Eyes DeFi And Tokenized Assets Under New CEO

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-03-12Last updated on 2026-03-12

Abstract

Binance.US is charting a new strategic direction under its newly appointed CEO, Stephen Gregory, who brings a strong compliance background from previous roles at Gemini and CEX.IO. The company plans to expand into decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenized assets, signaling ambitions beyond recovery from past legal challenges. This shift follows the dismissal of a 2023 SEC lawsuit against the exchange in May 2025, which had previously forced the platform to suspend dollar transactions and scale back operations. Since restoring banking services a year ago, Binance.US has introduced new rewards, staking, and referral programs to regain user trust. The move into tokenized assets—digital representations of stocks and other instruments—aligns with industry trends, as major exchanges compete to offer more diverse financial products.

Binance.US is planning to push into decentralized finance and tokenized assets — a signal that the company intends to do more than just recover from years of legal trouble.

The announcement came alongside the appointment of a new chief executive, marking what the company is positioning as a fresh start.

Compliance Background Shapes Leadership Choice

Stephen Gregory took over as CEO on March 9. He brings a compliance-heavy background to the role, having previously served as a compliance officer at Gemini and as compliance chief and counsel at CEX.IO.

Most recently, he ran crypto exchange Currency.com as its chief executive. His predecessor, Norman Reed, has moved into an advisory capacity.

Gregory’s appointment was announced Wednesday. In a statement, he pointed to the Binance brand and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, as central to the company’s identity going forward.

Zhao, known widely as CZ, has publicly pushed for the US to take a leading role in global crypto markets.

The hire of a lawyer with deep compliance roots was not accidental. Binance.US spent years under the shadow of a federal lawsuit that forced the platform to scale back operations significantly and temporarily cut off US dollar banking access entirely.

SEC Lawsuit Dismissed, Path Cleared For Comeback

The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Binance.US in 2023, accusing the exchange of operating without proper registration.

The case dragged on before the agency dropped it with prejudice in May 2025 — one of several crypto enforcement actions pulled back under US President Donald Trump’s administration.

Before that, the exchange had already taken a hit. It stopped processing dollar deposits and withdrawals after the legal pressure mounted, leaving customers limited to crypto-only transactions.

Dollar banking was restored roughly a year ago, a key step toward rebuilding trust with users who had grown cautious.

Since then, the platform has rolled out new rewards programs, expanded staking options, and introduced a referral program — all moves aimed at winning back users who drifted to competitors during the turbulent stretch.

BTC

Binance.US: New Products Signal Bigger Ambitions

The company said Wednesday it plans to keep growing its staking product line while adding services tied to decentralized finance and tokenized assets.

Tokenized assets — which include digital representations of things like stocks — have gained traction across the industry.

BTCUSD trading at $69,929 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

Reports indicate the total value of tokenized stocks has already crossed $1 billion across multiple platforms.

Other major exchanges have been building out similar offerings, competing for customers who want more than a place to trade crypto.

Binance.US is joining that race later than some rivals, but with a cleaner legal standing than it had just 12 months ago.

Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView

Related Questions

QWhat are the two main new areas that Binance.US is planning to push into under its new CEO?

ABinance.US is planning to push into decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenized assets.

QWho is the new CEO of Binance.US and what is a key focus of his professional background?

AThe new CEO is Stephen Gregory, and a key focus of his professional background is compliance, having served as a compliance officer at Gemini and as compliance chief and counsel at CEX.IO.

QWhat major legal event from 2025 cleared the path for Binance.US's comeback?

AThe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped its 2023 lawsuit against Binance.US with prejudice in May 2025.

QWhat was a significant operational challenge Binance.US faced during its legal troubles, and when was it resolved?

ABinance.US temporarily cut off U.S. dollar banking access entirely. This was resolved roughly a year ago when dollar banking was restored.

QAccording to the article, what is the reported total value of tokenized stocks across multiple platforms?

AThe total value of tokenized stocks has crossed $1 billion across multiple platforms.

Related Reads

Why Bitcoin Holds Above $64,000 After Fed's Hard Pause

**Bitcoin Stabilizes Near $64,000 Following Hawkish Fed Pause** The cryptocurrency market, led by Bitcoin, remained stable around $64,000 despite a volatile reaction to the latest U.S. Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed paused interest rates but signaled a hawkish stance, with three committee members voting for an increase—the highest dissent since 2016. This limits risk appetite but hasn't triggered panic selling. Key market highlights include Bitcoin ETFs seeing a net inflow of $32.1 million, breaking a streak of outflows, while Ethereum ETFs experienced outflows of $18.65 million. Liquidations affected about 90,000 traders. Technically, Bitcoin finds support around $63,000-$63,500, with major resistance near $66,000. While its price is about 49% below its all-time high, institutional demand via ETFs and the absence of mass capitulation support a potential recovery scenario in the second half of the year. Major altcoins showed mixed movements, with Solana attracting capital while Ethereum faced selling pressure despite strong on-chain metrics like a growing staking queue. Regulatory news took a pause as the U.S. Senate delayed the CLARITY Act vote until at least autumn. For the final trading day of July, U.S. inflation and consumer spending data will be crucial. Bitcoin's key levels to watch are $63,000 support and $66,000 resistance. Sustained ETF inflows and Bitcoin holding above $63,000 are seen as positive signs for a potential market recovery later in the year.

cryptonews.ru23m ago

Why Bitcoin Holds Above $64,000 After Fed's Hard Pause

cryptonews.ru23m ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片