Click Here 124. The company man: US response to Nigeria’s detention of former IRS crypto investigator rankles federal agents
Apr 23, 2024
Former IRS investigator Tigran Gambaryan is detained in Nigeria, causing confusion with his employer Binance. The podcast discusses cryptocurrency influencer plea deals, regulatory battles, and US response to Gambaryan's detention. It explores misunderstandings in crypto enforcement, lack of assistance from US officials, and challenges faced by individuals abroad. Also touches on tech giants complying with country laws and a retired robot Atlas.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Tigran Emberryan's Detention Story
- Tigran Emberryan, a former IRS crypto investigator, was detained by Nigerian authorities while working for Binance.
- He recorded a secret cell phone video describing his situation and his colleague Nadim Anjawala's escape attempt.
Company Man Mistaken for CEO
- Tigran worked first as a celebrated IRS investigator then as a liaison for Binance to aid law enforcement.
- Despite this, Nigeria arrested him for tax fraud and money laundering, conflating his role with Binance's CEO's misdeeds.
Binance's Regulatory Issues in Nigeria
- Binance's lax KYC and AML policies under former CEO CZ fostered a shady reputation, especially in markets like Nigeria.
- Nigerian regulators are suspicious of Binance's massive crypto flow and link it to Nigeria's economic instability and currency control issues.