Group 1 - Binance is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to potentially eliminate a key regulatory requirement from a previous $4.3 billion settlement, specifically the need for external compliance monitoring [1] - The DOJ is evaluating whether to abandon the requirement for external monitors for certain companies, as some have complained that such oversight is costly and disrupts normal business operations [2] - Binance's founder, Zhao Changpeng, had previously pleaded guilty and served four months in prison, and is now seeking a pardon from Trump [1][3] Group 2 - The DOJ has already terminated external monitoring agreements for three companies under the Biden administration, indicating a shift in its approach to corporate oversight [2] - Binance originally agreed to two independent monitors as part of its plea agreement, one from the DOJ and another from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), but the latter's monitor is still in place [3] - The DOJ's decision to maintain external monitors for some companies, such as Toronto-Dominion Bank's U.S. subsidiary, highlights that not all companies are receiving leniency [3] Group 3 - The external monitoring requirement has been a contentious issue, as seen in the case of Boeing, where a judge rejected the agreement due to concerns over the selection criteria for the monitor [4] - The DOJ and Boeing reached a temporary agreement allowing Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution by working with a compliance consultant instead of an independent monitor [4]