In late 2020, U.S. federal prosecutors had asked crypto exchange Binance to submit internal documents related to its money laundering checks and communication involving CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-us-sought-records-binance-ceo-crypto-money-laundering-probe-2022-09-01/" target="_blank">Reuters reported</a>, citing a written request.
The Justice Department had asked the crypto giant to hand over messages between CZ and other executives on matters related to detection of illegal transactions and customer acquisition in the U.S, the report added.
The authorities also sought any company records with instructions that "documents be destroyed, altered, or removed from Binance's files" or "transferred from the United States," the report said.
Binance <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2021/09/17/us-officials-add-insider-trading-claims-to-binance-investigation-report/" target="_blank">has been under the radar</a> of U.S authorities for sometime now, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) looking at insider trading and market manipulation by the crypto exchange.
The exchange did not immediately respond to CoinDesk's request for comment.