Highlights:
- Binance reinstates Mastercard crypto payments after a 10-month suspension due to regulatory challenges.
- The reactivation of Mastercard services on Binance is conditional, based on ongoing compliance reviews.
- Mastercard expands its crypto initiatives with new P2P transactions and partnerships with U.S. banks.
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has lifted its 10-month-old restriction on purchasing cryptocurrencies with Mastercard. This move allows Mastercard users to make purchases of digital assets using their cards once again. The reinstatement follows a series of reviews by Mastercard on Binance’s internal controls and processes.
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Mastercard deactivated the option for Binance users in August 2023 amid legal issues and regulatory scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
According to Binance’s post on X, Mastercard was the first on the exchange’s list of accepted card options. A Binance representative mentioned that the resumption followed rigorous reviews by Mastercard on the enhanced controls and structure implemented by Binance.
Crypto made easy—buy and sell with ease. 🤌
Use Mastercard, Visa, or SEPA, for bank transfers, and experience smooth transactions!
Try it now 👉🏻 https://t.co/shCZx59fi3 pic.twitter.com/05pzOC3sjh
— Binance (@binance) June 6, 2024
Binance-related purchases are now eligible on Mastercard’s network. The crypto exchange plans to provide additional support for withdrawals and other products in the future. A spokesperson from Binance stated, “We look forward to adding support for further products, such as withdrawals, at a later date.”
Similarly, a confirmatory report from Mastercard emphasized that lifting the suspension is conditional and based on ongoing reviews of Binance’s enhanced controls and processes. The sanctions may be reintroduced if Binance fails to meet the agreed standards.
Mastercard’s Continued Innovation and Collaboration
Recently, Mastercard unveiled its first peer-to-peer (P2P) pilot transaction of the Mastercard Crypto Credential. This product offers users an alternative for sending and receiving digital assets and is available in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, and Guatemala. The service is also offered in Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay.
Mastercard Crypto Credential has gone live with its first peer-to-peer transactions! This solution not only replaces complex wallet addresses with user-friendly aliases, but also makes sending #blockchain transactions secure, transparent and accessible.
Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/WgY6aTaQHP— Mastercard News (@MastercardNews) May 29, 2024
Additionally, Mastercard has partnered with elite banks in the United States to test shared-ledger technology. This collaboration aims to facilitate the timely settlement of tokenized assets, targeting commercial bank money, Treasury securities, and investment-grade debt securities.
Regulatory Challenges and Resolutions
Last year, Mastercard and Visa ended their partnerships with Binance amidst the exchange’s legal challenges in the U.S., including multiple charges by the SEC and CFTC. The decision to part ways with Binance came as the exchange was accused of misappropriating customer funds and conducting unregistered securities offerings.
Despite these challenges, Binance has worked to comply with regulatory standards. The reactivation of Mastercard-based cryptocurrency purchases signals a potential end to Binance’s regulatory troubles. The crypto exchange invests heavily in ensuring it meets the highest compliance standards.
In an April hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, also known as “CZ,” was sentenced to four months in prison for charges related to money laundering and ordered to pay a $50-million fine.
According to a recent report by Crypto2Community, Zhao began serving his sentence in a low-security federal prison in Lompoc, California, at the beginning of June. After his release, he plans to continue working in the crypto space.
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