Binance founder CZ faces backlash after calling Nigerian detention of executive a ‘kidnapping’

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has drawn fierce criticism from Nigerian officials and crypto leaders after claiming the government “kidnapped” former Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan during his eight-month detention in 2024. The remarks, posted on social media in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to cut aid to Nigeria, have reignited tensions between the crypto exchange and Africa’s largest digital asset market.

In his post, CZ stated that “Nigeria also basically kidnapped Tigran Gambaryan, an ex-Binance employee and an ex-U.S. federal agent, for eight months without cause a year ago.”

The remark came as a reply to Trump’s social media statement threatening to cut U.S. aid to Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians. Trump’s post was followed by another from U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who claimed that America was “preparing for action” if Nigerian authorities failed to protect Christian communities.

The CZ kidnapping claim quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing sharp condemnation from Nigerian officials and Web3 stakeholders. Many accused the Binance founder of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and misrepresenting a legal case that had already been resolved.

The case that sparked CZ kidnapping claim

Tigran Gambaryan, a former Binance compliance officer and ex-U.S. federal agent, was detained by Nigerian authorities in early 2024 amid allegations that the crypto exchange violated local financial regulations.

He was held for eight months before being released in October 2024. During that time, the Nigerian government and Binance engaged in a tense standoff over claims of tax evasion and regulatory breaches.

While many in the Nigerian crypto community had initially called for Gambaryan’s release, the CZ kidnapping claim reopened old wounds. Web3 advocates argue that CZ’s characterization of the detention as a “kidnapping” distorts the facts and disregards Nigeria’s judicial process.

“Just as the United States and other countries enforce their legal frameworks, leading to the creation of Binance-US for American users, Nigeria also reserves the right to enforce compliance within its jurisdiction,” — Sunusi Danjuma Ali, Web3 advocate, wrote on X.

The CZ kidnapping claim, Ali added, “shows a lack of respect for our legal institutions and the rule of law.”

Web3 leaders demand respect and accountability

In the wake of the CZ kidnapping claim, Nigerian Web3 leaders and crypto enthusiasts have demanded that CZ issue a public apology. Some accused him of bias against African nations, arguing that his comment reflects a double standard in how global corporations perceive regulatory enforcement in the Global South.

“Other countries have arrested crypto executives for non-compliance, but CZ never called those arrests kidnappings,” one blockchain commentator noted on X, emphasizing the inconsistency in the Binance founder’s rhetoric.

The backlash has grown intense enough that some Nigerian users are now calling for a boycott of Binance and its native token, BNB. Despite Binance’s continued popularity in Nigeria — one of its largest peer-to-peer markets globally — the CZ kidnapping claim has put its reputation at risk in Africa’s most active crypto economy.

Nigerian officials push back on foreign narratives

The CZ kidnapping claim also coincided with a tense exchange between the Nigerian government and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

In response to Trump’s post alleging mass killings of Christians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior officials rejected the accusation, insisting that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from extremist violence, particularly from groups like Boko Haram.

Government spokespeople have urged foreign figures to refrain from making inflammatory remarks that could distort Nigeria’s image or destabilize ongoing security efforts. Against this backdrop, CZ’s comments were seen as both insensitive and diplomatically damaging.

While Binance has yet to issue an official statement addressing the CZ kidnapping claim, the controversy underscores ongoing tensions between global crypto exchanges and national regulators. It also reveals the delicate balance between digital advocacy and international diplomacy in an era where social media posts can trigger geopolitical consequences.

As one Nigerian blockchain developer summarized,

“Respect is reciprocal. If we want global collaboration, tech leaders like CZ must also respect our laws, not insult our country.”