ChainCatcher news, according to News.bitcoin, Nigeria's proposed "Investment and Securities Bill" suggests imprisoning Ponzi scheme operators. This bill has been welcomed by participants in the cryptocurrency industry, who hope that this move will help to cleanse the industry's reputation.

ChainCatcher message, Google Trends shows that the recent searches for the keyword "Buy Bitcoin" mainly come from Nigeria, followed by Cameroon and Ghana.

ChainCatcher message, according to a statement released by the White House on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, thanking him for the release of American citizen and Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan. The press release stated that Biden "expressed gratitude for President Tinubu's leadership in ensuring Gambaryan's release" during the call, and particularly appreciated the cooperation in law enforcement, including through the recently announced bilateral task force on illegal finance and cryptocurrency, collaboration on new technologies and innovations, and shared interests in reforming international organizations to reflect African voices.Earlier reports indicated that on the day Tigran Gambaryan was released, the U.S. State Department announced the establishment of a new bilateral task force between the U.S. and Nigeria, focusing on cryptocurrency and illegal finance.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. State Department has announced the establishment of a Bilateral Liaison Group on Illicit Finance and Cryptocurrencies in partnership with Nigeria, to jointly combat cybercrime and financial misconduct related to cryptocurrencies.The official announcement stated: "The United States collaborates with global partners to promote cyberspace and digital technologies, foster economic prosperity, while combating and addressing malicious cyber activities, cybercrime, and other digital harms."The announcement reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to assisting the Nigerian government in strengthening its capacity to investigate and prosecute cybercrime, as stated by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

ChainCatcher news, Binance CEO Richard Teng posted on the X platform: "We are deeply relieved and grateful that Tigran Gambaryan has finally been released after being detained in Nigeria for nearly eight months. During this difficult time, Tigran has shown tremendous strength, and we commend his resilience in such severe adversity. We are very thankful to everyone who has dedicated countless hours to support Tigran's release. Tigran's health and well-being remain our top priority, and we are glad that he can now receive the urgent medical care and rest he needs with his family. Binance remains committed to working with global regulators to ensure compliance and transparency in the ever-evolving digital asset space. We look forward to putting this incident behind us and continuing our efforts to create a brighter future for the global blockchain industry. Nigeria has a young, tech-savvy population with a strong interest in digital finance, fully capable of leveraging blockchain technology to address economic and social challenges. We look forward to playing a constructive role in this endeavor."Previous news from yesterday, according to DL News, Nigerian prosecutors withdrew criminal charges against Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan on Wednesday; Tigran Gambaryan has been detained in the African country since February.

ChainCatcher news, according to DL News, Nigerian prosecutors withdrew criminal charges against Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan on Wednesday. Tigran Gambaryan has been detained in the African country since February.At the court hearing, a lawyer representing the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stated that Gambaryan could not be prosecuted for Binance's alleged illegal activities because he was merely an employee. Judge Emeka Nwite accepted the government's decision to withdraw the case. According to a source, Gambaryan has been released, but it is unclear whether he has reached the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.The EECC has not withdrawn money laundering charges against Binance, which denies any wrongdoing. The trial is set to begin in November.

ChainCatcher news, citing Bloomberg via Tree News, reports that the Nigerian government has dropped charges against Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, a group of 18 state attorneys general is urging President Biden to help ensure the release of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria since February 2024.The attorneys general have requested that Biden designate Gambaryan as a hostage under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act. In a joint letter sent on October 18, the organization expressed concern over Gambaryan's deteriorating health and the illegal nature of his detention.Attorney General Formella wrote in the letter: "His continued detention without cause not only violates his rights but poses a serious threat to his health and well-being... We have a responsibility to advocate for the rights of American citizens abroad, and we urge the federal government to apply the necessary diplomatic pressure to ensure his release."

ChainCatcher news, according to DL News, Binance's compliance officer Tigran Gambaryan was unable to appear in court due to serious illness, delaying the trial in Nigeria for several months. Tigran Gambaryan's lawyer Mark Mordi requested a recess to check on his client's health condition. The judge agreed and postponed the trial until October 25.It is reported that Binance's financial crime compliance officer Tigran Gambaryan has been detained in Nigeria since February, and the Nigerian court last week rejected Tigran Gambaryan's bail request due to illness. U.S. lawmakers have claimed he is being unjustly detained. His lawyer has repeatedly stated that his health condition is poor and that he requires surgery.

ChainCatcher news, the Nigerian government has collected nearly $100,000 (approximately 160 million Naira) from two cryptocurrency companies accused of unauthorized exchanging of USDT and Naira. The two companies are Paparaxy Global Ventures Limited and Lemskin Technologies Limited, which have been charged with violating the law for not holding valid banking licenses.According to Nairametrics, the two companies reached a plea agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria, and the case was heard on October 22.Additionally, Nigerian authorities are freezing bank accounts related to unlicensed cryptocurrency traders to strengthen regulatory measures.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, a court in Nigeria has denied the bail request of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan due to health reasons, which has sparked strong opposition from Binance.A Binance spokesperson stated in a statement: "We are deeply disappointed by the court's decision to deny Tigran's bail, especially considering his deteriorating health condition. He has been unlawfully detained for over 220 days. Tigran did not go to Nigeria as a decision-maker, and there is no reason to continue to detain him. We are committed to working with the Nigerian government to resolve this issue, but Tigran must be allowed to go home."Binance has consistently emphasized that Gambaryan does not have substantial decision-making power at the exchange, and his prolonged detention has raised humanitarian concerns. As Gambaryan's health worsens and the detention continues, calls for his release are growing louder. Binance, along with several international advocates, continues its fight for his freedom.ChainCatcher previously reported that, according to Bloomberg, a court in Nigeria denied the bail application of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan on health grounds, as the executive is on trial for alleged money laundering and currency manipulation, while instructing the prison to send him to the hospital for treatment.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, a court in Nigeria denied the bail application of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan on health grounds. The executive is on trial for alleged money laundering and currency manipulation, while the court instructed the prison to send him to the hospital for treatment. Binance's Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, has been detained in the country since February, and U.S. lawmakers have stated that he is being unjustly detained. His lawyer has repeatedly mentioned his poor health and stated that he requires surgery.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has pledged to combat fraud, money laundering, and market manipulation in the cryptocurrency industry. SEC Director General Emomotimi Agama emphasized the importance of enhancing investor education to help the public steer clear of unlicensed crypto exchanges and illegal platforms.In addition, Nigeria has approved the first batch of digital asset exchanges and revised the relevant rules for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also supports this initiative, highlighting the importance of regulation in ensuring the safety of the crypto market and protecting investors.

ChainCatcher news reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected $543.5 million into the Nigerian foreign exchange market between September 6 and 30 to address currency fluctuations.The bank attributed the volatility to strong import demand and seasonal factors. Nigeria is facing a foreign exchange shortage, and the government has taken various measures to address it, including restricting foreign currency withdrawals and considering selling oil in local currency.

ChainCatcher message, Chainalysis report shows that the value of stablecoins received in Nigeria rose from about $500 million in July 2022 to over $1 billion in April 2024, then saw a slight decline in December 2023. This coincides with the depreciation of the naira.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a resolution demanding the Nigerian government immediately release Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, whose health is deteriorating in prison.He and another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria in February this year due to allegations that Binance was illegally profiting from trading in the country. They were formally charged on February 28. Anjarwalla later escaped Nigeria on March 22. Gambaryan's health has sharply declined during his imprisonment, suffering from a herniated disc and pneumonia, and is "mostly bedridden."The resolution was introduced by Republican Congressman McCormick and was passed by a voice vote during a hearing on Thursday, demanding the Nigerian government release Gambaryan and provide him with "unrestricted medical care." It also calls on the U.S. State Department to "utilize all available assets and means to ensure his release" and to officially declare that Gambaryan is "wrongfully detained." The resolution will next be presented for a vote by the full House of Representatives.

ChainCatcher news, Binance CEO Richard Teng stated that his team has been "working day and night" to bring back the detained executive Tigran Gambaryan from Nigeria to the United States, as his health is deteriorating. "We have repeatedly called on the Nigerian government to release Tigran so that he can go home and receive the proper treatment he needs."Teng hopes that the U.S. can designate Gambaryan as unlawfully detained to expedite the process. He added that Binance is also trying to appeal to the Nigerian government to release Tigran on humanitarian grounds. He also mentioned that since being detained in Nigeria, Gambaryan has contracted malaria and pneumonia twice. His worsening health condition even caused him to faint suddenly during a court appearance in May.

ChainCatcher news, the Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against four individuals and multiple companies, accusing them of illegally conducting cryptocurrency transactions without holding a banking license, including exchanging USDT for Naira.The four defendants are Ejiogu A. Chinedu, Nnamdi F. Okereke, Oty Ugochukwu Stanley, and Chukwuebuka F. Ogumba. They are charged with violating the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and the Foreign Exchange Act.This case stems from an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into alleged manipulation of the Naira exchange rate and money laundering through virtual cryptocurrency trading platforms.Previous news, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained court approval to freeze over $330,000 (5.486 billion Naira) of suspicious funds deposited in cryptocurrency users' bank accounts.