Binance Compliance Chief, Tigran Gambaryan Leaves Binance After Detention in Nigeria

Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, is officially parting ways with the crypto exchange after enduring eight months of detention in Nigeria over money laundering allegations. Now cleared of all charges, Gambaryan confirmed in a recent interview that Friday, June 6 will mark his final day at Binance.

Tigran Gambaryan Bids Farewell to Binance After Nigeria Clears Charge

In February 2024, Tigran Gambaryan—once a top agent at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service—was arrested alongside a colleague during a business trip to Nigeria. The arrest sparked international attention and backlash from Binance.

Binance CEO Richard Teng later accused Nigerian officials of corruption, claiming that they had sought a “secret payment” to resolve the case. Nigerian authorities denied the allegation but eventually dropped the charges in October 2024.

Now in 2025, Gambaryan has chosen to exit the crypto giant.

Binance Honors Gambaryan’s Contributions to Crypto Compliance

In an emotional company-wide farewell, Binance expressed gratitude for Gambaryan’s service. A Binance spokesperson stated:

“We are deeply grateful for his dedication in transforming our financial crimes compliance organization. Thanks to his tireless efforts, the crypto industry is safer for all.”

From “Crypto Wizard” to Binance Compliance Lead

Before joining Binance in 2021, Gambaryan was renowned as a “crypto wizard” in U.S. law enforcement circles for his success in tracing illicit blockchain transactions.

At Binance, he focused on strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks and collaborated closely with global law enforcement agencies in seizing illicit digital assets. His departure comes as Binance navigates through multiple regulatory challenges worldwide.

SEC vs Binance: Legal Battle Comes to an End

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Binance in June 2023, accusing the exchange and its co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) of misusing customer funds and violating securities laws.

In November 2023, Binance and CZ pleaded guilty to separate charges and paid a combined $4.3 billion in penalties. CZ was also fined $50 million and served four months in a U.S. prison, following his resignation as CEO.

CZ Seeks Presidential Pardon from Trump

In May 2025, Changpeng Zhao revealed that he had formally applied for a presidential pardon from former President Donald Trump. After major media outlets including the Wall Street Journal reported on the move, CZ confirmed:

“If they’re writing this article, I may as well just officially apply.”

Zhao is now shifting focus, helping Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan develop crypto regulatory frameworks and blockchain adoption strategies.