Nigeria has filed an $81.5 billion lawsuit against Binance, accusing the crypto exchange of causing economic instability and failing to pay taxes. The country’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) claims Binance has outstanding tax obligations from 2022 and 2023, along with a 26.75% interest on back taxes. This legal action follows Nigeria’s crackdown on crypto trading platforms amid concerns over the local currency’s depreciation.
Earlier, Nigerian authorities detained two Binance executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, on charges of tax evasion and money laundering. However, the government later dropped the cases against them, instead shifting focus to pursuing legal action against Binance itself. The exchange has faced increasing scrutiny in Nigeria as regulators attempt to control digital asset-related financial risks.
Meanwhile, Coinbase is also dealing with legal challenges as a shareholder lawsuit accuses the company of misleading investors about bankruptcy risks. The complaint, filed by investor Wenduo Guo, alleges Coinbase failed to disclose that customer funds might be classified as part of its bankruptcy estate, leaving retail investors vulnerable as unsecured creditors. The lawsuit also claims Coinbase engaged in undisclosed trading activities to mitigate declining crypto prices.
In a separate development, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the first yield-bearing stablecoin, signaling regulatory acceptance of interest-generating digital assets. As global regulatory oversight tightens, crypto firms continue to face legal battles and shifting compliance requirements in multiple jurisdictions.
