Ex-IRS Agent Jailed in Nigeria as Part of Anti-Crypto Crusade

Tigran Gambaryan has investigated illegal tax shelters for the California Franchise Tax Board, served in the criminal investigation division of the US Internal Revenue Service and done a stint in The Hague working with Europol. Over the years, he developed a specialization in tracing cryptocurrency use by criminal enterprises and helped shutter sprawling contraband marketplaces such as Silk Road.

Three years ago, he joined the cryptocurrency platform Binance, which was trying to bolster its internal policing and buff up a tarnished public image. Since then, Gambaryan has worked with fraud and financial watchdogs worldwide to help freeze more than ...