The Nigerian government has intensified its legal actions against Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Officials are demanding $81.5 billion in damages, accusing Binance of tax evasion and contributing to the depreciation of the local currency, the naira.
Allegations Against Binance
Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has accused Binance of failing to pay $2 billion in taxes between 2022 and 2023. The agency is also seeking a 26.75% interest rate on the unpaid amount, calculated based on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s lending rate. In addition to tax evasion claims, officials argue that Binance has caused severe economic damage by facilitating currency speculation. The government is demanding an additional $79 billion in compensation, alleging that Binance’s trading platform contributed to the naira’s volatility in the foreign exchange market. This legal battle started when Nigerian authorities detained two Binance executives—Tigran Gambaryan and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla—in February. The two had traveled to Nigeria to discuss allegations that Binance’s activities were destabilizing the naira. Although the Nigerian government later dropped tax evasion charges against Binance and its executives in June, the new lawsuit signals that the dispute is far from over. Gambaryan, who was released after eight months in detention, has since accused Nigerian lawmakers of soliciting a $150 million bribe—a claim the government has strongly denied.
Nigeria’s Crackdown on Crypto
Binance is not the only crypto platform under scrutiny in Nigeria. The country has been tightening regulations on digital assets, accusing exchanges of enabling money laundering and tax evasion. Earlier, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Binance and its executives with five counts related to money laundering. Additionally, Binance faced four tax-related charges, including non-payment of value-added tax (VAT), non-payment of corporate income tax, failure to file tax returns, and facilitating tax evasion through its platform. Despite these allegations, Binance has stated that it was cooperating with Nigerian authorities to resolve tax disputes.
Binance’s Response
Binance has denied the accusations and maintains that it does not operate a registered entity in Nigeria. The company also emphasized that it had taken steps to comply with regulations, including halting all naira transactions in March 2023. However, Nigerian authorities argue that Binance has a 'significant economic presence' in the country, making it liable for corporate taxes. In response to the latest lawsuit, Binance has not issued a public statement. However, the company continues to face increasing regulatory pressure worldwide.
The lawsuit in Nigeria adds to Binance’s growing legal troubles. The exchange has already faced significant challenges in the U.S., where Binance.US had to suspend fiat deposits due to regulatory restrictions. The lawsuit in Nigeria could set a precedent for how other governments handle crypto regulation.
