Binance’s role in the sudden collapse of FTX, an event that sent reverberations around crypto markets, has come under congressional scrutiny, a senior House Republican confirmed to The Block.

“This is serious. I think that this is a major event,” Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told The Block while acknowledging that Binance’s role in the sudden meltdown will be one of the focuses of a December hearing announced this morning. 

The North Carolina Republican — the likely next chairman of the House Financial Services Committee — referred to a widely circulated internet meme that used footage from television show "The Office" to highlight the role public comments made by Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao played in FTX’s sharp decline.