Dina Temple Raston

The Nigerian authorities told them that Binance had tanked their currency, that they'd laundered money, and that they'd evaded taxes.

The Nigerian authorities told them that Binance had tanked their currency, that they'd laundered money, and that they'd evaded taxes.

We reached out to the Nigerian authorities for this story. They declined to comment. What we do know is that the Nigerian government has a history of being quick to fine companies and seize their assets. But Binance had no assets to seize or to hold as collateral. In a sense, Tigran and Nadim became collateral.

We reached out to the Nigerian authorities for this story. They declined to comment. What we do know is that the Nigerian government has a history of being quick to fine companies and seize their assets. But Binance had no assets to seize or to hold as collateral. In a sense, Tigran and Nadim became collateral.

We reached out to the Nigerian authorities for this story. They declined to comment. What we do know is that the Nigerian government has a history of being quick to fine companies and seize their assets. But Binance had no assets to seize or to hold as collateral. In a sense, Tigran and Nadim became collateral.

have some breaking news on a major crypto company, Binance. Oh yeah, it was us, the U.S.

have some breaking news on a major crypto company, Binance. Oh yeah, it was us, the U.S.

have some breaking news on a major crypto company, Binance. Oh yeah, it was us, the U.S.

A few months before Tigran was detained in Nigeria, the U.S. Justice Department announced this huge case against Binance. They'd been investigating the company for years, and they announced that they had reached a plea deal with the founder and former CEO, a guy named Chongpeng Zhao, also known as CZ.

A few months before Tigran was detained in Nigeria, the U.S. Justice Department announced this huge case against Binance. They'd been investigating the company for years, and they announced that they had reached a plea deal with the founder and former CEO, a guy named Chongpeng Zhao, also known as CZ.

A few months before Tigran was detained in Nigeria, the U.S. Justice Department announced this huge case against Binance. They'd been investigating the company for years, and they announced that they had reached a plea deal with the founder and former CEO, a guy named Chongpeng Zhao, also known as CZ.

And he and the company agreed to plead guilty to a bunch of federal charges, including flouting anti-money laundering laws and violations of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act. They were fined $4.3 billion.

And he and the company agreed to plead guilty to a bunch of federal charges, including flouting anti-money laundering laws and violations of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act. They were fined $4.3 billion.

And he and the company agreed to plead guilty to a bunch of federal charges, including flouting anti-money laundering laws and violations of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act. They were fined $4.3 billion.

Back in Nigeria, Tigran and the business guy Nadeem told officials, we're not top finance executives. We can't pay that fine. We can't release that user data. That's way above our pay grade. And Nigerian officials were like, OK, then call your bosses, because until that gets cleared up, we're keeping you here in Nigeria.

Back in Nigeria, Tigran and the business guy Nadeem told officials, we're not top finance executives. We can't pay that fine. We can't release that user data. That's way above our pay grade. And Nigerian officials were like, OK, then call your bosses, because until that gets cleared up, we're keeping you here in Nigeria.

Back in Nigeria, Tigran and the business guy Nadeem told officials, we're not top finance executives. We can't pay that fine. We can't release that user data. That's way above our pay grade. And Nigerian officials were like, OK, then call your bosses, because until that gets cleared up, we're keeping you here in Nigeria.

And then one day, about a month after they were detained, things took a turn. Tigran went to Nadeem's room.

And then one day, about a month after they were detained, things took a turn. Tigran went to Nadeem's room.

And then one day, about a month after they were detained, things took a turn. Tigran went to Nadeem's room.