Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive who spent eight months detained in Nigeria, recently shared his harrowing experience at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 26, 2025. Facing serious allegations of tax evasion and money laundering, Gambaryan described what he termed a ‘hostage’ situation orchestrated by the Nigerian government.
During the summit, Gambaryan, now the head of financial crime compliance at Binance, indicated that the charges against him seemed to serve as a pretext for the government’s ulterior motives. According to his statements, the Nigerian authorities initially regarded him as an asset, hoping to leverage his position at Binance to extract financial resources from the company. He noted a turning point about a month prior to his release, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly in 2024, when the situation pivoted and he sensed a shift in the government’s perspective regarding his value.
Gambaryan articulated, “Before that, they kind of saw me as an asset they could use to get their billions out of Binance.” However, mounting international pressure eventually led them to reconsider his detention, with Gambaryan alluding to the idea that he had become more of a liability to the government.
Tigran Gambaryan speaking at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 26. Source: Rumble
Since his return to the United States in October, Gambaryan’s public remarks have been sparse, likely influenced by the trauma of his experience. Family reports from Nigeria indicated that his health suffered significantly while in detention, with ailments such as pneumonia and malaria affecting his well-being.
This evolving story continues to capture attention as further details emerge about the circumstances of Gambaryan’s detention and the implications it may have for Binance and cryptocurrency regulations globally.
This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.
