Tigran Gambaryan’s exit follows his high-profile detention in Nigeria during a regulatory crackdown on crypto exchanges. The former IRS investigator had built Binance’s 100-person global compliance team, handling thousands of law enforcement requests annually. His departure raises questions about leadership stability amid ongoing legal challenges.
The Nigerian government had accused Binance of facilitating $26 billion in untraceable transactions, though charges were later dropped. Gambaryan’s nine-month detention strained relations between crypto firms and emerging market regulators. Industry watchers speculate his exit reflects broader executive fatigue with geopolitical risks in crypto operations.
Binance claims the departure was amicable, but it coincides with increased regulatory scrutiny worldwide. The exchange faces ongoing investigations in the U.S. and EU over money laundering controls. Gambaryan’s exit may prompt restructuring of Binance’s compliance division as it seeks to rebuild trust with financial authorities.
