A U.S. judge has approved Binance's request to move a money laundering case to the Southern District of Florida, noting that a related case is already being handled there.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in Washington in August 2024, accuses Binance of enabling cybercriminals to use its platform to launder illicit funds. However, U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein said in an April 21 order. pointed out that the allegations are very similar to those in a Florida case filed in June 2023.

“While the two lawsuits describe their plaintiff groups slightly differently, they essentially target the same group—individuals whose crypto assets were stolen and funneled into Binance accounts during the same period,” Judge Rothstein explained.

Because of the overlap, she determined that the "first-to-file" rule should apply.

Source: Law360

This legal principle allows courts to defer when a similar case is already being handled by another court. Typically, the district that received the initial complaint retains jurisdiction, according to the legal reference site LSD Law.

Binance hasn't issued a direct comment on the case's relocation but has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to compliance and cooperation with U.S. regulatory inquiries.

This transfer to Florida adds another layer to the ongoing saga surrounding Binance’s operations in the U.S. As the legal process continues in Florida, the cryptocurrency community will be closely monitoring how this "first-to-file" decision influences the outcome of this significant lawsuit. It serves as a reminder that even in the rapidly evolving world of digital assets, established legal principles still hold significant weight.