Things are not so good for Binance this year, in the most recent scoop, Binace is facing heightened regulatory pressure globally. It started with the Nigerian Naira collapse by more than 70% in the last 1 year. Recently, the Nigerian government blamed Binance for the currency collapse even detained executives, and asked for a $10 Billion Fine.
But what’s the reality? The Nigerian government must clarify the reasons behind this action.
As part of the investigation, the SEC has detained several Binance executives in Nigeria. The SEC has also frozen the bank accounts of Binance and its affiliates in the country. The senior executives are held without formal charges for over two weeks by Nigerian authorities, sparking international attention and prompting calls for clarification.
Investigations and Allegations
The Nigerian government blamed Binance for processing funds that cannot be traced, which has been linked to the collapse of the Nigerian Naira by over 70% in the past year. There have been rumors that the government has asked Binance to pay a huge $10 billion fine, but Nigerian officials have denied these claims.
Notably, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, top officials, were detained in Abuja on Feb 25 over a dispute with Nigerian authorities. They remain in government custody without formal charges, raising concerns about their well-being and detention transparency. Visits from U.S. and U.K. officials were reportedly monitored by Nigerian guards as reported by WSJ.
Response from Binance
However, in response, Binance said they are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to return Gambaryan and Anjarwalla safely. While maintaining the professionalism and integrity of the detained executives, Binance has refrained from commenting on the allegations against them.
International Pressure and Diplomatic Efforts
Calls for their governments to step in have grown stronger, with Gambaryan’s wife petitioning the U.S. government for strong intervention. The incident shows how cryptocurrency regulation and international diplomacy are complicated.
Beyond the immediate concerns for the individuals involved, Nigerian authorities sought transaction data and deletion requests spanning seven years involving the Nigerian Naira. While Binance executives advocated for embassy help. Subsequently, the Nigerian government obtained a court warrant for the detention of officials for at least twelve days.
Awaiting Resolution
With no immediate resolution in sight, stakeholders remain vigilant, awaiting further developments in this case. However, the detention of Binance executives in Nigeria is a stark reminder of how vulnerable is cryptocurrency space, highlighting the dire need for transparency between crypto players and regulators.
Will Nigeria’s currency crisis shut down crypto in the country? Only time will tell.
