Binance.US is reportedly seeking to raise up to $100 million in a private funding round that could value the cryptocurrency exchange at $1 billion. The potential valuation marks a significant decrease from the $4.5 billion pre-money valuation the company secured in 2022, when it raised $200 million in seed funding. According to reports, the US-based exchange is pursuing this investment to expand its business operations.
The proposed capital raise is part of Binance.US’ efforts to regain market share against larger competitors following a 2023 settlement between Binance Holdings Ltd. and US authorities. As part of that agreement, Binance Holdings agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties and accept additional monitoring and oversight. Its former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, pleaded guilty to a felony charge and served four months in prison before receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump in 2025.
Binance.US reportedly informed World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform co-founded by President Trump and his sons, about the funding round. However, World Liberty Financial will not be participating in the investment. This development follows a controversial $2 billion investment last year involving an entity tied to United Arab Emirates royalty and World Liberty using the USD1 stablecoin.
The reported attempt by Binance.US to secure $100 million at a $1 billion valuation highlights the substantial discount applied to the brand following its regulatory settlement with US authorities. The drop from a $4.5 billion pre-money valuation in 2022 to a potential $1 billion post-settlement reflects investor caution regarding the exchange's operational constraints and compliance overhead. Securing capital at this level suggests that while the entity remains viable, its growth trajectory is heavily dependent on navigating the strict monitoring regime established after the $4.3 billion penalty agreement.
From a Market Structure perspective, the exclusion of World Liberty Financial from the funding round indicates a strategic separation between the exchange’s capitalization needs and politically connected entities. Despite prior controversies involving UAE-linked investments and Trump-affiliated platforms, Binance.US appears to be prioritizing independent private investment to rebuild credibility. The success of this raise will serve as a key indicator of whether institutional investors are willing to back the US arm of the global giant despite its history of legal challenges and leadership changes.
