By Dominion Ndubuisi
The US Department of Justice is demanding $4 billion from Binance to end a criminal investigation into the cryptocurrency exchange, according to a report by Bloomberg. The report also says that Binance's founder, Changpeng Zhao, could face criminal charges in the US as part of the deal.

The Justice Department's demands come as Binance is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators around the world. The exchange has been fined by regulators in the US, the UK, and other countries for failing to comply with anti-money laundering and know-your-customer (KYC) rules.

Binance has denied any wrongdoing and has said that it is cooperating with the Justice Department's investigation. However, the company has also said that it is willing to pay a large fine to resolve the case.

The US government's demands against Binance are the latest in a series of actions taken against cryptocurrency companies in recent months. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also taken action against several cryptocurrency companies, including Ripple and Coinbase.

The SEC and the Justice Department have both said that they are committed to protecting investors from fraud and manipulation in the cryptocurrency market. However, some critics have argued that the government's actions are stifling innovation in the cryptocurrency industry.

It remains to be seen whether Binance will agree to pay the $4 billion that the Justice Department is demanding. However, the company is under increasing pressure to resolve the investigation so that it can focus on expanding its business.