Binance Still Hiring Says ‘CZ’ In Reaction to Reports of 1,000+ Staff Lay Offs

Crypto giant Binance, celebrated for its rank as the globe’s top crypto exchange, is grappling with job cuts. The development follows a spate of high-profile departures among its top brass and simultaneous regulatory pressures from U.S. authorities, who are involved in numerous investigations against the platform. The company is battling lawsuits filed by the securities and futures commissions and is under the Department of Justice’s scanner.

In a revelation that added fuel to the fire, the Wall Street Journal disclosed on Friday that Binance had executed job cuts that affected over 1,000 employees recently. This confirmation came from a reliable insider source who spoke to Reuters. The crypto colossus appears to be trimming its workforce following news that some of its key executives are bidding farewell to the platform, known for its high daily trading volumes.

Reacting to the news, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ in the community, echoed his previous sentiments about the departure of his executives. He labelled the widespread reports about the extensive job cuts as merely propagating FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt). Via a tweet, he dismissed the reported figures as grossly exaggerated, even asserting that Binance continues to hire.

Rewinding to late May, CZ had debunked speculation that adverse market conditions could lead to one-fifth of Binance’s employees being shown the door. Fast forward to last week, he underscored the staggering growth Binance has undergone – from a 30-strong team to a whopping 8,000 in a mere six years.

In a video statement released on July 14, CZ expressed his gratitude, stating, “As Binance celebrates our sixth anniversary, I want to thank everyone in our community for your extraordinary support. Binance would not be here without you.” This was followed by a tweet from the exchange, looking ahead to the future, “We can’t wait for what lies ahead.”

Adding to the mix, CNBC shed light on Friday that Binance plans to execute more layoffs. The numbers could range from 1,500 to 3,000 globally by year-end, including the 1,000 layoffs mentioned by the WSJ report. This move responds to a current probe by the U.S. Justice Department suspecting money laundering violations and evasion of sanctions.

However, a Binance spokesperson pushed back against the larger number, stating, “As we prepare for the next major bull cycle, it has become clear that we need to focus on talent density across the organization to ensure we remain nimble and dynamic. This is not a case of rightsizing, but rather, re-evaluating whether we have the right talent and expertise in critical roles.”