Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, who spent eight months in custody in Nigeria in 2024 facing allegations of tax evasion and money laundering, shared insights regarding his ordeal and the circumstances that led to his release.
During his remarks at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 26, Gambaryan, who oversees financial crime compliance for the firm, indicated that he was effectively held hostage by the Nigerian government, implying that the allegations were merely a means for the officials to extract concessions from Binance. He reported that he began to perceive signs indicating his release would be imminent “about a month” prior to his return to the United States.
“The pressure on the Nigerian government really intensified around the time of the 2024 [United Nations] General Assembly, and they realized I had become more of a liability,” Gambaryan explained. “Prior to that, they viewed me as an asset that could help them retrieve billions from Binance.”
Tigran Gambaryan speaking at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 26.
Since being handed over to US authorities in October, Gambaryan has remained largely silent about his time in custody and subsequent release. His family and local reports indicated that his health declined significantly after being detained in February, suffering from pneumonia, malaria, and a herniated disc.
This story is still developing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.