Binance Backs African Law Enforcement Crackdown on Crypto Scam Networks

James Ding Mar 03, 2026 08:53

Binance supported Operation Catalyst across six African nations, leading to 83 arrests and uncovering $260M linked to terrorism financing and crypto fraud.

Binance has ramped up its collaboration with law enforcement agencies across Africa, supporting operations that resulted in 83 arrests and the identification of 160 persons of interest tied to terrorism financing and crypto-enabled fraud. The exchange's involvement in Operation Catalyst, which ran from July through September 2025 across six African countries, marks one of the most significant coordinated efforts to combat illicit crypto activity on the continent.

The operation uncovered approximately $260 million in fiat and virtual currencies potentially linked to terrorism-related activities, according to data from participating agencies. Of those arrested, 21 faced terrorism-related charges, 28 were connected to financial fraud and money laundering, 16 to cyber-enabled scams, and 18 to illicit use of virtual assets.

Scale of Cooperation Expanding

Binance's African engagement extends well beyond Operation Catalyst. The exchange collaborated with an INTERPOL-led crackdown from June to August 2025 that saw authorities arrest 1,209 cybercriminals, dismantle 11,432 malicious infrastructures, and recover $97.4 million across the continent.

Globally, Binance processed over 71,000 law enforcement requests in 2025 alone. The exchange's teams supported authorities in confiscating more than $131 million in assets linked to illicit activity and delivered over 160 training sessions to strengthen investigative capabilities around crypto-related crimes.

Complicated History in Nigeria

The cooperation comes against a backdrop of tension in Africa's largest crypto market. Nigeria—where cryptocurrency transactions topped $56.7 billion in 2023—detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan for eight months in 2024. Nigerian authorities accused Binance of manipulating the naira's value and tax evasion. Gambaryan was released in October 2024 after the government dropped money laundering charges, allowing him to seek medical treatment abroad.

Despite that friction, Binance has continued training Nigerian officials. The exchange's Law Enforcement Training team delivered full-day sessions to EFCC investigators in Abuja and Lagos in late 2023, with more than 30 officials attending each session.

Compliance Metrics Tell the Story

Binance has invested heavily in cleaning up its exposure to illicit flows. From January 2023 to June 2025, the exchange reduced illicit exposure by 96-98%, outperforming industry peers. By June 2025, only 0.007% of Binance's volume was linked to illicit activity—2.5 times lower than the average across other major exchanges.

The exchange now employs over 1,280 specialists dedicated to risk, compliance, and investigations, representing 22% of total staff.

BNB traded around $633 as of March 3, 2026, up roughly 2% over 24 hours with a market cap near $86 billion. The token's price action has remained relatively stable as Binance continues positioning itself as a cooperative partner to global regulators—a strategy that could prove increasingly valuable as jurisdictions worldwide tighten crypto oversight.

• binance
• bnb
• crypto regulation
• africa
• law enforcement