Binance denied on Feb. 27 that its alleged choice to switch $1.8 billion of stablecoin collateral to hedge funds had any impression on consumer holdings.
In a press release made to Forbes, Binance chief technique officer Patrick Hillman strongly implied that consumer funds weren’t used to these ends. He mentioned:
“There was no commingling,” [Hillman said], as a result of “there’s wallets after which there’s a ledger.”
Hillman didn’t straight state whether or not any funds had been moved, and Forbes maintained that Binance didn’t disclose sure transfers regardless of Hillman’s assertion.
Forbes alleged in the identical report that, primarily based on blockchain data, Binance moved $1.8 billion in stablecoin collateral to quite a few hedge funds.
Notably, Forbes accused Binance of sending $1.1 billion to Cumberland DRW. The agency supposedly helped Binance convert the funds into Binance USD (BUSD).
Forbes moreover mentioned that Binance despatched an unspecified sum of money to Alameda Analysis — the hedge fund carefully related to the failed FTX change. Forbes went on to name Binance’s actions “reminiscent” of FTX’s personal mismanagement.
Forbes additionally named two different entities — Amber Group and Tron — as recipients of “thousands and thousands of {dollars}” price of collateral in its authentic report. Alameda, Amber Group, and Tron collectively obtained $201 million, in response to Forbes.
Supposedly, the funds moved by Binance had been meant to again its B-peg USDC stablecoins. Forbes referred to those belongings as “digital replicas” of Circle’s USD Coin — or belongings tied to the worth of USDC in order that they are often circulated on Binance’s personal blockchain. If Forbes’ accusations are appropriate, customers might have been left with undercollateralized stablecoins.
Binance has beforehand been the goal of comparable accusations. On Jan. 10, the corporate admitted that its B-peg BUSD token was undercollateralized by as a lot as $1 billion once in a while. The corporate mentioned at the moment that it had improved its practices.
Binance’s stablecoin insurance policies are in flux. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao just lately mentioned that Binance will cut back reliance on however proceed to help BUSD as issuance ends. In September, the change mentioned it might cut back help for stablecoins aside from Tether.
