AAX clients storm exchange's office in Lagos following operational halt

Nigerian customer's of the crypto speech AAX reportedly attacked the company's bureau successful Lagos and harassed its employees, successful a effect for the caller halt of withdrawals, according to section reports from Dec. 3. 

Although it's unclear erstwhile the battle happened, the Nigerian Blockchain Technology Association Stakeholders (SiBAN) confirmed the tempest successful an announcement connected Nov. 28, urging aggravated users to beryllium diligent with the exchange's workers, who were besides impacted by the issues. SiBAN noted:

"Therefore, we entreaty to and discourage immoderate dissatisfied oregon aggravated idiosyncratic oregon capitalist from harassing oregon victimizing the AAX Country Manager (Nigeria), different section unit members, and AAX ambassadors nationwide. These persons are besides facing the aforesaid concern arsenic disgruntled users and investors are. At the clip of penning this notice, we are alert that connection betwixt these persons and AAX office has been arsenic strained astatine this time. We truthful entreaty for knowing and patience from each Nigerian AAX users."

The AAX play started connected Nov. 14, erstwhile the exchange started halting withdrawals, citing a glitch successful its strategy upgrade. AAX assured its assemblage that the halt successful withdrawals had nary transportation to FTX's ongoing collapse, denying immoderate fiscal ties with the embattled exchange.

Following the announcement, the AAX team announced connected Nov. 15 to beryllium moving connected raising further capital, arsenic investors withdrew their funds amid contagious concerns pursuing FTX bankruptcy. The SiBAN commented connected the situation:

"Considering that AAX’s strategy upgrade came astatine a clip FTX illness is inactive causing a contagion effect connected the full crypto industry, AAX’s timing of its strategy upgrade was suspicious and questionable successful the archetypal place. Consequently, for galore AAX users and the members of the public, the prolonged AAX strategy upgrade till the clip of penning this announcement importantly raises much questions than answers. And AAX, contrary to its committedness to support a regular update of the situation, has truthful acold neglected oregon failed to support the spot and assurance of its users."

The Nigerian relation besides noted that its members are among the affected clients.

Related: Here’s however centralized exchanges purpose to triumph backmost users aft the FTX collapse

On Nov. 28, Ben Caselin, vice president for planetary selling and communications of AAX, resigned from his position, raising speculation that operations successful the speech mightiness not resume. According to Caselin, contempt his efforts successful warring for the community, "none of the initiatives we came up with were accepted. Any relation I had near for connection became hollow."

The erstwhile AAX enforcement besides expressed his disagreement with the mode that AAX is handling the issue. Caselin described the actions of the speech arsenic “without empathy” and “overly opaque.”