The Nigerian government’s clampdown on cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance has sparked debate, with the government citing concerns about potential harm to the economy.
Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s media aide, accused Binance of “destroying Nigeria’s economy” and “fixing foreign exchange (FX) rates arbitrarily” in an interview on Channels Television.
Binance has previously denied manipulating FX rates, stating that such rates are determined by complex market forces beyond their control.
Onanuga claims the government is acting to prevent “economic saboteurs” from harming the country’s financial stability.
Read Also: Binance navigates uncertainties in Nigeria — Compliance efforts amidst regulatory scrutiny
“We have saboteurs. Look at what Binance is doing to our economy. That is why the government moved against Binance,” Onanuga said.
“Some people sit down using cyberspace to dictate our exchange rate, hijacking the role of the CBN.
“They just sit down and fix anything they like. It’s sabotage, and we are trying to prevent that from happening henceforth.
“We were told that if we don’t clamp down on Binance, Binance will destroy the economy of this country. They just fix the rate. That is economic sabotage.”
Analysis:
The government’s accusations against Binance raise critical questions:
Evidence: The government has not provided specific evidence to support claims of deliberate FX manipulation by Binance.
Justification for Clampdown: Beyond the unsubstantiated accusations, the full rationale behind the government’s actions remains unclear.
Impact on Economy: The potential economic impact of the clampdown requires further analysis and monitoring.
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