Tigran Gambaryan, the former U.S. federal agent who spearheaded Binance’s financial crime investigations team, has officially left the crypto exchange, marking the end of a transformative four-year chapter. His departure comes less than a year after a harrowing eight-month detention in Nigeria, where he was held on allegations related to Binance’s operations in the country.
“There’s a growing need for trusted, experienced operators,” Gambaryan wrote in his farewell message on LinkedIn, “people who understand how to translate between technology, enforcement, and compliance.”
From IRS Investigator to Crypto Crime Leader
Gambaryan joined Binance in 2021, at a time when the exchange was facing growing scrutiny from regulators over money laundering and illicit finance concerns. At the time, Binance had no investigations division. What followed was a complete buildout of the company’s first global investigations unit – a team of over 100 professionals, including former prosecutors, cybercrime agents, and intelligence analysts.
Under Gambaryan’s leadership, Binance responded to tens of thousands of law enforcement requests annually, helped train thousands of police and regulators globally, and contributed to real-world cases involving terrorism financing, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and trans-national fraud.
Notable cases included:
- A $270 million fraud ring takedown in collaboration with the Royal Thai Police.
- Disruption of ISIS-linked wallets, resulting in arrests and the seizure of terror funds.
- Support for Nigeria’s EFCC, including the recovery of $400,000 in illicit funds and training of over 70 local agents.
His work aligned Binance more closely with U.S. and international enforcement norms, at a time when many exchanges were struggling to meet even basic compliance expectations.
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Nils Andersen Röed and Jarek Jakubcek, who formerly worked as investigators at Europol, were recently in South Africa and Nigeria to train local regulators… pic.twitter.com/7uIUBrAtSF
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) December 4, 2023
Detained in Nigeria, Released Amid Global Pressure
In 2024, Gambaryan’s tenure took a dramatic turn when he was detained by Nigerian authorities amid a crackdown on crypto platforms. Despite having no decision-making authority on Binance’s business operations in the country, Gambaryan was held for eight months before his release.
His detention drew sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers, with bipartisan pressure mounting for his release. He was ultimately freed on humanitarian grounds and later cleared of all charges. Nigeria, however, has continued pursuing regulatory actions against Binance.
🇳🇬REGULATION | Nigeria Sues #Binance for $81.5 Billion in Economic Losses and Unpaid Taxes
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) claims that Binance has a ‘significant economic presence’ in Nigeria.https://t.co/1VQGMEuClQ @FIRSNigeria @binance @BinanceAfrica pic.twitter.com/VaSjVCjnlu
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) February 20, 2025
A Familiar Name in African Crypto Circles
Before his time at Binance made global headlines, Gambaryan was already known in African crypto communities for his law enforcement-first approach to digital assets. His work regularly featured on BitKE which consistently tracks blockchain enforcement trends across Africa.
Tigran was often cited for his proactive outreach to African regulators, including training sessions with the EFCC in Nigeria and capacity-building engagements in East Africa. As BitKE reported, he was one of the few Western crypto executives “actively trying to close the trust gap between centralized exchanges and African regulators.”
🇳🇬REGULATION | Binance Reportedly Addressed Over 600 Information Requests from Nigerian 🇳🇬 Law Enforcement Agencies in the Last 4 Years
Between June 2020 and February 2024, #Binance reportedly addressed 626 information requests from Nigerian law enforcement agencies, with an… pic.twitter.com/NSsbLSUz6u
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 30, 2024
That legacy continues, despite the geopolitical challenges he later faced on the continent.
What’s Next?
Gambaryan hasn’t disclosed his next role, but hinted at a return to public service or joining a mission-driven institution in the private sector.
“I’ve done all I can at Binance,” he wrote. “It’s time to refocus on new challenges.”
His departure comes at a time when crypto’s overlap with national security and traditional finance is intensifying. With his deep experience navigating both the enforcement world and the crypto sector, Gambaryan remains one of the most uniquely positioned figures in the ongoing battle against financial crime in digital assets.
🇳🇬REGULATION | Nigerian Financial Regulator, @officialEFCC, Intensifies Crackdown Against Unlicensed Crypto Platforms with Latest Afriq Arbitrage Suit
The firm was operating in the specialized field of financial services without holding a valid licensehttps://t.co/CWnrvLOFqB pic.twitter.com/SyyJRA5scs
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) April 24, 2025
TL;DR
- Tigran Gambaryan, ex-IRS agent and Binance’s global investigations lead, has left the company after building its 100-person financial crime unit.
- He was detained in Nigeria for 8 months before being released under U.S. pressure.
- Gambaryan is widely respected in African crypto compliance circles, having trained enforcement bodies like Nigeria’s EFCC.
- He plans to continue working at the intersection of law enforcement and digital assets — in public service or with a mission-driven private entity.
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