WASHINGTON — An American cryptocurrency executive who had been detained in Nigeria for the last eight months has now been released after officials announced the cessation of his money laundering trial, citing health and diplomatic reasons. Tigran Gambaryan, who serves as Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, was granted release on humanitarian grounds and is on his way back to the United States for medical care, as stated by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in a Thursday announcement.
Sullivan expressed gratitude towards Nigerian officials for what he described as productive discussions that led to this moment. He also emphasized a commitment to continued collaboration on various critical areas of mutual interest between the two nations.
Gambaryan was taken into custody back in February while he was in Nigeria for business. He was arrested alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, who managed to escape and remains at large. The Nigerian government had accused both Gambaryan and Binance, recognized as the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, of laundering approximately $35 million and manipulating the value of the local naira currency—allegations that the company denies.
In terms of cryptocurrency usage, Nigeria stands as Africa’s most significant market based on trade volume, with many citizens relying on digital currencies to protect themselves from rising inflation and a weakening local currency. However, as the number of cryptocurrency users expanded, government officials claimed, without publicly presenting evidence, that Binance was being utilized for money laundering and terrorism financing. This led to the suspension of all trading with the naira on the platform.
On Wednesday, R.U. Adaba, a prosecutor from Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that the government decided to discontinue the case after considering “some critical international and diplomatic reasons.” Despite this development, Binance is still confronting accusations related to tax evasion and operating without the necessary license.
Gambaryan’s legal proceedings had been marked by disputes over the nature of his detention, with claims that he and his associate were unlawfully held and had their passports confiscated. Furthermore, Binance raised concerns about Nigerian officials allegedly demanding bribes for Gambaryan’s and Anjarwalla’s release. The Nigerian government has refuted these bribery claims, insisting that the prosecution was executed in accordance with the law.
As the legal battle progressed, Gambaryan’s health reportedly declined. The Abuja court denied him bail on two occasions, with a judge ruling that he posed a flight risk and should remain incarcerated in Kuje prison, located in the capital city.