The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly requested that Binance, a leading crypto exchange, pay $4 billion to resolve its ongoing investigation into the company. The settlement could include charges against Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao for money laundering, bank fraud, and sanctions violations. A settlement announcement may arrive by the end of November and, if accepted, would be one of the largest penalties in a crypto-related case.

The agreement aims to strike a balance between punishing Binance and allowing it to continue operations without causing crypto markets to plummet. BNB, Binance's native token, rose 4% to $257 following the report. Some experts believe that a settlement deal could be bullish for crypto markets, as it would allow Binance to evolve into a more institutional and compliant future direction.