Binance Faces DOJ Probe Over Iran Sanctions as Bitcoin Surges Past $86K

The Manhattan US Attorney's Office is investigating whether Binance knowingly facilitated trades that violated US sanctions on Iran, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, revealing new details about a Justice Department probe first disclosed in March. According to people familiar with the matter, the DOJ's Criminal Division in Washington is also participating in the investigation. A Binance spokesperson told Cointelegraph that the exchange maintains a "zero-tolerance policy for sanctions violations" and "fully cooperates with law enforcement," though the statement did not directly address awareness of the reported probe. An investigation does not imply wrongdoing and may conclude without charges. The Wall Street Journal first reported in March that the DOJ was examining whether Iran used Binance to circumvent US restrictions, though it remained unclear at the time whether the exchange itself, its users, or both were under scrutiny.

Bitcoin surged above $86,000 on Monday, reaching its highest level in eight months and extending a rally that gained momentum after last week's failed CLARITY Act vote. The leading cryptocurrency hit a 33-week high above $86,500 on Bitstamp, climbing more than 6% intraday after closing the previous week at $81,120, its strongest weekly close since early May. The move triggered nearly $800 million in crypto short liquidations over 24 hours. Falling oil prices contributed to the bullish momentum, with WTI crude dropping below $92 per barrel following signals from Qatar's Foreign Ministry and US President Donald Trump that negotiations to end the US-Iran conflict could resume.

Separately, the European Central Bank launched a new settlement system for tokenized assets denominated in central bank money, marking another step toward integrating blockchain technology into mainstream financial infrastructure. Meanwhile, other major cryptocurrencies posted gains, including Monero (+4.13%), BNB (+1.91%), and Stellar (+7.21%), reflecting broad strength across digital asset markets.