In commemoration of his heroic sacrifice he has made for the crypto industry, where the United States Digital Chamber had created an award to celebrate Tigran Gambaryan's touching story.

Tigran Gambaryan was a Binance executive who has been detained and tortured in Nigeria in 2024. After almost a year of negotiation and rollercoasters of emotion, Gambaryan was finally released earlier this year.

Since his release, Gambaryan had been lauded as a national hero and celebrated for his amazing story of how crypto leaders often endure gruelling persecution when they are pushing for innovation.

An award named after his heroic act

The Digital Chamber presented the Hero award to Tigran Gambaryan during the DC Blockchain Summit in Washington,D.C, in commemoration of the immense personal and professional challenges he had endured to advance the blockchain technology.

During the event, Gambaryan also shared the details of his captivity, which has sparked fresh conversations about the risks faced by crypto professionals operating in volatile regions.

At the DC Blockchain Summit, Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) presented Gambaryan with the Hero Award, acknowledging his resilience and dedication to both the crypto industry and his country.

"Few people have suffered for this industry the way you have. Thank you for what you've done in service to our country and in service to our industry."

Detained and tortured just because he supported crypto

Gambaryan’s ordeal began in February 2024 when Nigerian authorities was hunting down for Gambaryan and his fellow Binance employee Nadeem Anjarwalla, hoping to put them behind bars.

While Anjarwalla managed to flee the country with a smuggled passport, Gambaryan wasn't that lucky. During his time in prison, Gambaryan was repeatedly tortured and deprived of the medical attention he so desperately needed.

As his health deteriorated, Gambaryan was literally fighting for his life as he battled malaria, double pneumonia and a herniated disc all by himself, while medical officers in the prison chose to turn a blind eye to his plea for medical assistance.

During a court hearing in September 2024, videos of Gambaryan dire health conditions were also leaked online. In the videos, he was seen in excruciating pain and barely able to stand, yet he was deliberately denied a wheelchair.

That video quickly caught the attention of many U.S. lawmakers, including Representatives French Hill (R-OH) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), who visited him at Kuje prison near Abuja and demanded his immediate humanitarian release.

During that time, Representative French Hill released a statement, saying

"Tigran must be immediately granted a humanitarian release, the remaining charges dropped, and he must return home to America where he belongs."

Gambaryan was charged with money laundering and tax compliance violations in Nigeria. However, many critics argue that these charges were politically motivated, leveraging him as a bargaining chip in Nigeria’s broader dispute with Binance. Reflecting on his experience, Gambaryan stated, “Hopefully, those that did this will one day face justice.”

While the Nigerian authorities tried to explain that the imprisonment of Gambaryan was based on the charges of money laundering and tax compliance, critics believe that the Nigerian authorities were actually using him as a chip in the county's ongoing battle with Binance.

During his speech, Gambaryan who appeared to be in better spirits, demanded for justice

"Hopefully, those that did this will one day face justice."

Broader Implications for the Crypto Industry

Gambaryan’s ordeal also shines light on the gaps between the rapid expansion and blockchain enterprises and lagging regulatory framworks in certain regions.

It pushes key figures to refine areas, including but not limited to security measures to protect employees operating in high-risk areas, develop proactive risk management strategies to address unpredictable regulatory environments, and foster stronger collaboration between industry leaders and policymakers to mitigate cross-border tensions.

This case could also serve as a catalyst for reassessing global crypto policies. Gambaryan's story might also push governments to update frameworks to align digital with modern law enforcement to provide better protection for industry professionals.