Binance News Today: Co‑CEO Shake‑Up, Trump Pardon Fallout, Binance Junior & BNB Price Predictions (December 5, 2025)

TL;DR

Binance has formally adopted a dual–CEO structure, appointing co‑founder Yi He alongside Richard Teng, in its biggest governance shift since founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stepped down in 2023. ^[1]
A presidential pardon from Donald Trump has freed CZ to re‑enter the spotlight and push a renewed Binance US expansion, as he vows to help make America the “capital of crypto.” ^[2]
Legal pressure remains intense: Binance faces a $1 billion terrorism‑financing lawsuit in North Dakota and a revived $80 million Florida case over allegedly mishandled stolen Bitcoin. ^[3]
The exchange is rolling out Binance Junior, a parent‑managed crypto savings app for kids aged 6–17, plus an “ABC’s of Crypto” picture book, aiming to lock in the next generation of users – and drawing both praise and criticism. ^[4]
On the markets, BNB trades around $890–$900, while analysts are split between cautious and extremely bullish forecasts, with targets ranging anywhere from $600s to $1,500+ over the coming months and years. ^[5]

1. Leadership Reset: Yi He Joins Richard Teng as Co‑CEO

Binance has officially moved to a co‑CEO model, naming co‑founder Yi He as co‑chief executive alongside existing CEO Richard Teng in early December 2025. It’s the most significant leadership change at the exchange since CZ stepped down in 2023 following a guilty plea over anti‑money‑laundering and sanctions‑related violations. ^[6]

What the new structure looks like

Coverage from Finance Magnates describes a deliberate split in responsibilities: ^[7]

Richard Teng is effectively the “external CEO”, front‑facing for regulators, corporate governance and global policy.
Yi He acts as the “internal CEO”, leading product development, marketing, community engagement, Binance Labs and the broader Web3 ecosystem.

This formalizes a dynamic insiders say has existed for years: Teng as the regulatory and institutional face, Yi as the architect of user growth and product strategy. ^[8]

CZ: “She was always strategically involved”

Speaking at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, CZ told Indian outlet Moneycontrol that Yi He’s new title merely makes official a role she has long played behind the scenes. He called her “extremely hardworking,” deeply connected to users across Western and Chinese social platforms, and “very product focused,” arguing that she has been strategically involved from the start as co‑founder. ^[9]

The same report notes that Binance is nearing 300 million users worldwide, underscoring why strengthening internal leadership is so critical at this scale. ^[10]

Managing risk after CZ’s conviction and pardon

A deeper dive from BeInCrypto and analytics site AInvest frames Yi He’s promotion as part of Binance’s effort to stabilize itself after: ^[11]

CZ’s 2023 criminal conviction in the US and a four‑month prison sentence over compliance failures.
A record $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities in late 2023/2024 for anti‑money‑laundering and sanctions violations.
Ongoing lawsuits accusing the exchange of money‑laundering and terror‑financing lapses.

AInvest estimates Binance still commands around 64% of global crypto trading volume, illustrating the tension between its market dominance and regulatory exposure. ^[12]

Strategy site Think in Leverage argues that the co‑CEO structure acts as a “governance buffer”, redistributing executive risk and increasing resilience to regulatory shocks by embedding a trusted founder alongside a regulator‑friendly executive. ^[13]

2. CZ’s Trump Pardon and a Renewed Binance US Expansion

The leadership shuffle is happening against the backdrop of a dramatic political twist: former US President Donald Trump pardoned CZ in October 2025 after he served a short US prison term. ^[14]

“Make America the capital of crypto”

At a press conference during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, CZ said he is “very appreciative” of the pardon and that it lets him and Binance operate “more freely” globally, including in the United States. ^[15]

In both Moneycontrol and CryptoNews interviews he repeated a clear goal: to help turn America into the “capital of crypto”, while acknowledging that Binance had previously tried to withdraw from the US under the Biden administration due to intense regulatory scrutiny. ^[16]

Key context from those reports: ^[17]

Binance US, launched in 2019, once had about 35% market share versus Coinbase on the day the SEC sued it in 2023; CZ now says it has less than 1%.
The SEC lawsuit and state‑level actions caused Binance US to lose banking access and several licenses, sharply curbing growth.
CZ now views the US as “an emerging land” for Binance, emphasizing its tech and AI talent, but says aggressive direct expansion isn’t imminent; instead, he wants to support BNB ecosystem projects, institutional access to BNB, and broader industry growth.

US regulation: GENIUS & CLARITY Acts

CZ has also praised the US for finally moving toward clearer digital‑asset rules. CryptoNews notes he singled out the GENIUS Act (focused on stablecoins) and the still‑evolving CLARITY Act (aimed at defining digital assets) as evidence that the US is starting to “lead” in crypto regulation. ^[18]

That shift matters for Binance: a more predictable US regulatory framework could support CZ’s ambition to re‑anchor parts of the global crypto business in America – but only if courts and regulators are comfortable with Binance’s new compliance posture.

3. Legal Headwinds: Terror‑Financing Allegations and an $80M Florida Case

Despite the pardon, Binance’s legal problems are far from over.

$1 billion terrorism‑financing lawsuit in North Dakota

A BeInCrypto investigation highlights a $1 billion federal lawsuit filed in North Dakota by victims and families of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The suit accuses Binance, CZ and other executives of facilitating funding for groups including Hamas and Hezbollah through weak compliance controls, off‑chain transactions and permissive account practices in high‑risk jurisdictions. ^[19]

The case comes on top of Binance’s multi‑billion‑dollar US settlement and alleges that, even as regulators pursued enforcement, the exchange continued to be used for illicit flows. If courts accept those arguments, it could set precedents for how far crypto exchanges must go to police users.

Florida appeals court revives $80 million stolen‑Bitcoin suit

Separately, a Florida appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit seeking roughly $80 million from Binance over allegedly mishandled stolen Bitcoin. ^[20]

According to CoinCentral: ^[21]

Plaintiff Michael Osterer says hackers stole 1,000 BTC from his wallet in 2022 and moved the funds to a Binance account.
The suit claims Binance failed to freeze and recover the assets quickly, allowing the hackers to withdraw or convert them.
The Third District Court of Appeal ruled the lower court erred in dismissing the case for lack of jurisdiction, citing Binance’s US affiliates and infrastructure as sufficient Florida contacts.

The case now proceeds, with Binance likely to seek arbitration or other procedural defenses. But the message is clear: US courts are increasingly willing to assert jurisdiction over global crypto venues.

Why some see these cases as especially dangerous

Commentary in outlets like AInvest and Yahoo‑linked coverage argues that fresh civil cases and terrorism‑related suits might pose greater long‑term risk to Binance than its already‑settled criminal matter, because they can: ^[22]

Re‑open questions around corporate culture and internal controls,
Lead to damages or injunctions that reshape business models, and
Keep Binance under a cloud of uncertainty even after regulatory settlements.

Add to that a growing body of policy analysis such as CertiK’s “2025 Skynet U.S. Digital Asset Policy Report”, which maps out a stricter US digital‑asset enforcement environment, and it’s clear Binance operates in an increasingly unforgiving legal landscape. ^[23]

4. Binance Junior: Betting on the Next Generation of Crypto Users

While lawyers battle in courtrooms, Binance is quietly planting seeds with the next generation of users.

What is Binance Junior?

Multiple outlets – including Our Crypto Talk, Decrypt, TechAfrica News and regional fintech media – report that Binance has launched “Binance Junior,” a parent‑managed crypto savings app for children and teens aged 6–17, unveiled during Binance Blockchain Week. ^[24]

Key features described:

Parent‑only control – Junior accounts are sub‑accounts linked to a parent’s verified Binance account; guardians must pass KYC and 2FA and can control deposits, daily limits and instant freezes. ^[25]
No trading or on‑chain withdrawals – kids cannot trade, use leverage or move assets off‑platform; transfers are restricted to parents or approved Junior accounts. ^[26]
Crypto savings, not speculation – balances can earn yield via Binance’s Simple Earn products, which parents can enable or disable. ^[27]
Education built‑in – the app ships with learning content, including an “ABC’s of Crypto” illustrated picture book that explains crypto jargon from A to Z (“H is for HODL,” as BetaKit notes). ^[28]
Regional rollout – currently live in parts of South Africa, Europe and Asia, not yet available in the US or UK; age thresholds and features vary with local law. ^[29]

Community reaction: education vs exploitation

Our Crypto Talk compiles social‑media reactions that range from enthusiastic (“teaching kids about money early sets them up for success”) to sharply critical (“kids experiencing 50% losses at age 6”). Critics worry about exposing minors to market volatility, even in a controlled setting, while supporters focus on financial literacy and parental oversight. ^[30]

For Binance, the move positions crypto not just as a speculative asset, but as a family wealth tool – and deepens the role of Yi He, who has championed user‑centric products and community engagement for years. ^[31]

5. Operational Moves: Delistings, Derivatives and Network Upgrades

Beyond high‑level strategy, Binance is making a series of technical and listing changes that impact traders today.

Futures delistings and liquidity risks

Binance Futures today (December 5, 2025) is delisting several perpetual contracts, including SXPUSDT, MILKUSDT, OBOLUSDT and TOKENUSDT, after closing all positions and conducting automatic settlements at 09:00–09:30 UTC. New positions were blocked shortly before the cutoff. ^[32]

An analysis from AInvest warns that such batch delistings can: ^[33]

Trigger auto‑liquidations and slippage for traders who don’t close in time.
Create “liquidity vacuums” in affected tokens, with sharp price swings around settlement.
Push liquidity toward “blue‑chip” assets, centralizing risk and fragmenting price discovery across exchanges.

For active derivatives traders, the message is simple: monitor delisting calendars closely and avoid leaving positions to auto‑settle in thin markets.

Upcoming spot delistings: FIS, REI, VOXEL

In a separate announcement, Binance said it will delist StaFi (FIS), REI Network (REI) and Voxies (VOXEL) from all spot trading pairs on December 17, 2025, citing ongoing asset‑review criteria such as development activity, liquidity, security and regulatory considerations. ^[34]

The move cascades through other products – from margin and Simple Earn to copy trading and mining – with clear deadlines for users to redeem, close or withdraw positions before support is fully withdrawn in February 2026. ^[35]

THORChain upgrade: deposits paused, trading open

On the infrastructure side, THORChain‑related deposits and withdrawals are paused today as Binance supports a major THORChain network upgrade at block 23,969,500. Trading in tokens like RUNE continues normally. ^[36]

Binance emphasizes that user funds remain safe and that transfers will resume once the upgraded network is deemed stable, with no separate re‑opening announcement planned. ^[37]

Volume spike: 800% jump in trading activity

Market‑data platform Meyka reports that Binance’s trading volume has surged roughly 800% over a short recent window, pointing to heightened volatility, increased participation (notably in Australia) and a possible strategic push by the exchange. ^[38]

Higher volume typically improves liquidity and order‑book depth, but also raises the stakes for risk management – particularly around the same futures and margin delistings noted above.

6. Market Snapshot: BNB Around $900 in a $3 Trillion Crypto Market

According to Binance’s own Market Update for December 5, 2025, the global crypto market cap sits around $3.1 trillion, down about 2.5% over the past 24 hours. ^[39]

Bitcoin (BTC) has traded between roughly $90,900 and $93,600, changing hands near $91,300 in morning trading, down a little over 2%. ^[40]
BNB, Binance’s native token, is quoted around $892, off ~2% on the day. ^[41]

A separate Binance Square post notes that the broader market has seen around $267 million in liquidations over the last 24 hours, underscoring how leveraged positions are being flushed out during this bout of volatility. ^[42]

Against that macro backdrop, BNB’s next moves are drawing intense scrutiny.

7. BNB Forecasts: Can Binance Coin Reclaim $1,000 – or Go Far Beyond?

Analysts are anything but unanimous on where BNB is headed next. Today’s commentary spans everything from cautious downside to aggressive upside targets.

Short‑term technical views (December 2025)

Range‑bound with upside potential – InvestingHaven
- BNB is trading around $895, and the $900–$920 zone now “shapes the entire December outlook.” ^[43]
- Holding above that area could open a move toward $1,000–$1,200.
- Failure would likely keep BNB trapped between $800 and $950.
Short‑squeeze first, then possible downside – AMBCrypto
- On shorter timeframes, BNB has broken a lower high at about $906, giving bulls a near‑term boost.
- However, AMBCrypto still sees a broader bearish trend, with indicators like the DMI and limited capital inflows signaling that the current bounce may be a rally within a downtrend. ^[44]
- Their analysis highlights liquidation clusters around $910–$920 and $950, suggesting a likely short squeeze toward the $950–$1,000 region before bears may regain control. ^[45]
Near‑term breakout target of $1,150 – Blockchain.News
- A new piece from Blockchain.News synthesizes several analyst views, pointing to a consensus bullish target around $1,150 within the next 30 days, contingent on a decisive break above the $920 resistance. ^[46]
Risk below $805 – long positions at stake
- A Yahoo‑syndicated forecast flags roughly $20 million in long positions that could be at risk if BNB loses support near $805, underlining how leveraged traders are positioned around that level. ^[47]

Medium‑term predictions (2025–2026 and beyond)

Bullish structural breakout – Coinpedia
- Coinpedia notes BNB recently reclaimed levels above $920, touching a key seven‑year ascending‑channel resistance. ^[48]
- A clean breakout with strong volume could, in their view, trigger a multi‑stage rally toward $1,150–$1,500 over 2025–2026. ^[49]
Conservative scenario – Changelly
- By contrast, a long‑term forecast from Changelly is markedly more cautious. For December 2025, it projects: ^[50]
  - Maximum price: about $676
  - Minimum price: about $610
  - Average: roughly $643, implying a negative ROI of ~25% from current levels.
Binance’s own model‑driven estimates
- Binance’s internal price‑prediction page shows much more modest moves, with short‑term forecasts clustering around $900 (e.g. ~$902 for early December and low‑$900s into early January), implying a relatively flat near‑term trajectory rather than a moonshot. ^[51]
“Will BNB break $1,000 again?” – media roundups
- Crypto outlets like InvestX, AMB Crypto and regional exchange Pintu all frame December’s key question similarly: can BNB reclaim the $1,000 level it lost as network activity and stablecoin flows cooled earlier this year? ^[52]

What these forecasts agree on

Despite wildly different price targets, analysts broadly agree on a few points:

$900–$920 is the critical short‑term pivot. Lose it, and downside or range‑bound action looks likely; hold and break above it, and four‑digit targets stay on the table. ^[53]
Binance’s legal and regulatory outcomes will heavily influence valuation multiples, institutional appetite and BNB’s long‑term ceiling. ^[54]
The broader macro picture – from US rate‑cut expectations to Bitcoin’s trajectory – remains a dominant driver of BNB’s path. ^[55]

As always, these are projections, not guarantees. They are based on current technicals, sentiment and macro assumptions that can change quickly.

Important: Nothing in these forecasts constitutes financial or investment advice. Crypto assets are highly volatile and you should do your own research and consider independent professional guidance before making decisions.

8. How Analysts View Binance’s Long‑Term Outlook

Beyond daily price moves, recent commentary paints a nuanced picture of Binance’s future.

The bull case

Supportive analyses from AInvest, CoinCentral and others highlight: ^[56]

Massive scale and network effects – hundreds of millions of users and a dominant share of global spot and derivatives volume.
BNB’s embedded utility – used across trading fee discounts, BNB Chain gas, staking, payments and ecosystem apps, with a quarterly burn that reduces supply over time.
Product innovation – from Binance Junior to expanding Web3 infrastructure, labs investments and new derivatives and yield products. ^[57]

A CoinCentral piece, for example, lists BNB alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum as one of the “best crypto assets to buy now” for long‑term investors, emphasizing utility and ecosystem depth rather than speculation alone. ^[58]

The bear (or at least cautious) case

More skeptical voices, including AInvest and BeInCrypto, stress that Binance’s greatest vulnerabilities are structural and legal, not technological: ^[59]

Ongoing lawsuits (terror‑financing, stolen funds, and other civil actions).
Residual distrust after years of regulatory run‑ins, opaque corporate structure and the unprecedented size of its past US settlement.
Market‑structure risks from repeated delistings and product pruning, which may centralize liquidity but also drive some traders to rival platforms. ^[60]

Finance Magnates succinctly frames the core question: can Binance balance founder‑style growth instincts (now channeled through Yi He) with Teng’s compliance‑first agenda without pulling CZ back into effective control or triggering new regulatory backlash? ^[61]

9. What to Watch After December 5, 2025

For anyone tracking Binance and BNB, the coming weeks will be crucial. Key signposts include:

Co‑CEO execution – Whether Yi He and Richard Teng can maintain a clear division of labor and present a united front to regulators and users. ^[62]
Progress of major lawsuits – Any rulings or settlements in the North Dakota terror‑financing case and the Florida $80M stolen‑BTC suit. ^[63]
US policy moves – Implementation details of the GENIUS Act, progress on the CLARITY Act and evolving SEC/DOJ stances toward large offshore exchanges. ^[64]
User adoption of Binance Junior – Uptake, regional expansion and any regulatory reactions to a crypto app for minors. ^[65]
BNB’s battle at $900–$920 – Whether price holds this band and attempts a breakout toward $1,000+ or slips back into the mid‑$800s and below. ^[66]

Whatever happens, December 5, 2025 will likely be remembered as a pivot point: the day Binance tried to turn a page on years of regulatory crisis with a fresh leadership model, a family‑focused product push – and a token whose next major move could redefine the market’s view of its long‑term prospects.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or legal advice. Always conduct your own due diligence or consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.