Binance sues Wall Street Journal for defamation over story on Iran investigation

WILMINGTON, Del., March 11 (Reuters) - Binance sued the Wall Street Journal and its parent company Dow Jones on Wednesday, alleging they published a defamatory report that the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange had ended an internal investigation into a $1 billion transfer through the company to Iran-backed terror groups.

• Binance accused the WSJ of falsely reporting that its compliance staff were fired for their role in the investigation and that the company did not take action over the Iran investigation

• Binance's lawsuit says it sought a correction and Dow Jones refused

• Binance alleges the WSJ demonstrated malice by rushing to publish to compete with the New York Times

• WSJ and Dow Jones did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit

• Binance says members of Congress demanded an inquiry after the WSJ story, damaging the company's reputation

• Binance is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages

• The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan

• Binance has been sued for transactions that allegedly helped terror groups

• Company pleaded guilty in November 2023 to violating U.S. anti-money-money-laundering law.