Will the 4.3 billion USD fine be refunded? The response from the founder of a certain exchange reveals what signal.

On November 17, the founder of a leading exchange expressed his views on social media regarding whether the exorbitant fine of $4.3 billion could be refunded.

His response was quite interesting - he admitted that it was a “subtle issue.” On one hand, he said he was already very grateful to be exempted from being sued personally for ( and didn't want to appear greedy; on the other hand, he was weighing what would be considered fair. This kind of measured statement reveals a bit of political wisdom.

What is more noteworthy is the latter half of the sentence: if any refunds are actually received, the money will be reinvested back into the U.S. market, “to express gratitude.” This sounds like a way of submitting a letter of intent to the regulators—showing that we are willing to support the U.S. market with concrete actions. However, he also added that the platform has not yet formally submitted a refund application.

From a compliance perspective, this statement not only preserves the space for asserting rights but also avoids the risk of direct confrontation with regulators. In the current environment, how to deal with regulatory agencies indeed requires this art of balance.