Tigran Gambaryan, Binance Exec Who Was Detained in Nigeria for Nearly a Year, Departs Crypto Exchange

Tigran Gambaryan, the former U.S. federal agent who led Binance’s financial crime compliance efforts, announced that he is leaving the company after a tumultuous four-year tenure.

Gambaryan, once a IRS investigator, joined Binance in 2021 when the crypto exchange was under growing scrutiny for its lax compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

At the time, Binance had no investigations team. Under his leadership, the company built a 100-person global unit staffed with former prosecutors and federal agents, he said on social media.

However, His tenure at Binance took a dramatic turn in 2024, when Nigerian authorities detained him on allegations tied to the exchange’s operations. Gambaryan spent eight months in prison before being released on humanitarian grounds following bipartisan U.S. political pressure.

He was ultimately cleared of charges, though Nigeria continued to pursue penalties against Binance.

Later on, he said it would be an honor to serve his country again, if asked to do so.

In his departure message, Gambaryan reflected on his time at Binance and expressed a desire to continue bridging the worlds of enforcement, technology, and compliance.

“There’s a growing need for trusted, experienced operators, people who understand how to translate between technology, enforcement, and compliance,” he wrote.

“That’s where I intend to continue making a difference,” he added.