With COVID-19 in the air and heightened anxiety in the world, crypto scams could gain unprecedented power.
FM
Earlier this week, cybersecurity firm Cipher Trace published a report with findings that so far this year, nearly $1.4 billion dollars in cryptocurrency have been stolen by malicious actors.
On the surface of things, it looks as though the crypto space might be cleaning up its act: while the number is sizeable, the figure is considerably less than the amount of cryptocurrency that had been stolen around the same time last year; both 2019 and 2020 are showing exponential increase in thefts over 2018, when $1.7 billion was stolen through the year.
Specifically, CipherTrace’s Q2 report from 2019 revealed that $4.26 billion had been taken in the first six months of the year. The majority of the stolen funds in 2019 were taken in connection with PlusToken, a massive Ponzi scheme based out of China that made off with some $3 billion in crypto coins.
However, while scammers have taken quite a bit less this year than they had in 2019, there are some eerie similarities between this year’s crypto scam landscape and last year’s: specifically, most of this years’ stolen funds can be attributed to Wotoken, which--like PlusToken--is shaping up to be another large-scale Ponzi scheme with more than $1 billion in spoils.
Indeed, “the largest contributor to 2020's crypto crime total was Wotoken's billion-dollar Ponzi scheme out of China,” said John Jeffries, Chief Financial Analyst at CipherTrace, to Finance Magnates.
John Jefferies, Chief Financial Analyst at CipherTrace.
As such, “2020 is on track to be, at minimum, the second-highest year on record for the total amount netted by criminals from cryptocurrency crime,” he said. “However, it's possible that 2020's cryptocurrency crime numbers could exceed 2019's $4.5 billion.”
This may be particularly true if scams like PlusToken and Wotoken continue to permeate the cryptocurrency world. While Plustoken and Wotoken are certainly some of the most prominent examples, there are many others, including the infamous OneCoin scam, which made off with $4 billion over the course of several years.
Why do these scams continue to be so effective? And has the crypto scam landscape changed--or do crypto criminals keep singing the same old song?
Greed and altruism: Ponzi schemes are so successful because the play on peoples’ emotions
Nir Kshetri, Professor in the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNCG and research fellow at Kobe University, told Finance Magnates that Ponzi schemes continue to proliferate the cryptocurrency space because they are so effective.
Indeed, “the criminals behind crypto frauds are likely to utilize proven techniques that they have been using for quite some time,” Kshetri said. Specifically, “many cryptocurrency fraudsters appeal to people’s greed.”
In other words, these kinds of schemes are so successful because “they promise big returns.”
Indeed, high returns are essential in the crypto Ponzi playbook: they were a feature of Plustoken, Onecoin, and Bitconnect--another scam that was shut down in 2018.
Bitconnect guaranteed daily returns for users, with higher rates for investors who were willing to ‘lock’ more of their capital into the Bitconnect ‘network’ for longer periods of time.
“It doesn’t provide information on investment strategies, but somehow promises investors 1.2% daily returns.” Some of iCenter’s Facebook posts promised returns over 2.5% “according to your investment amount."
At press time, the iCenter website was down, and appeared to have been defunct for quite some; a message on the iCenter Telegram group (which had 4,432 subscribers) dating back to October 2018 said that “Our server provider is currently experiencing a technical issue. They are already aware of it and it should be sorted very soon. We appreciate your understanding, the Bot's should be working very soon. (sic)”
(Exit scam, anyone?)
Unwitting victims of crypto Ponzi schemes can recruit other victims
Another problem with these Ponzi schemes is that they don’t just play on peoples’ greed: they also insidiously play on peoples’ altruism.
After all, if you had just found an amazing, life-changing platform that would quickly multiply your savings, wouldn’t you also send it to your friends? Your neighbors? Your parents? Your grandma?
“Victims may [incidentally] exploit friends and family through social media,” Kshetri explained. “When one person is [taken in] by the promise of big returns on cryptocurrency investments, they may spread the word to friends and family members.”
These schemes also invoke the visages of trusted celebrities in order to reel in unwitting victims: “sometimes big names such as celebrities get involved, [although] not all the celebrities know they’re involved,” Kshetri continued.
For example, “the fraudsters behind iCenter featured a video that purported to be an endorsement by Dwayne’ ‘The Rock’ Johnson, holding a sign featuring iCenter’s logo. Videos of Justin Timberlake and Christopher Walken were deceptively edited so they appeared to praise iCenter, too.”
Coronavirus may have heightened susceptibility to crypto crimes online
While Ponzi schemes may play on peoples’ tendencies for greed and altruism, there’s another kind of cryptocurrency scam that is playing on another human emotion: fear.
After all, 2020 has been one of the most anxiety-filled periods of time in recent history; with coronavirus quarantines going into their third and fourth months, and protests raging in Hong Kong and North America, existential fear across the globe seems to be reaching a fever pitch.
CipherTrace’s John Jeffries told Finance Magnates that the Coronavirus pandemic in particular has “certainly made its mark in cybercrimes, especially as government resources and attention are funneled to mitigating impacts [of the virus] and oversight [on cybercrime] is reduced.”
Amid pandemic, crypto crime surges in first 5 months: CipherTrace - VASPs get cleaner - 75% of exchange payment cross borders - Bitcoin ATM users prefer high risk exchanges https://t.co/BAC6lEa85r#bitcoin#ETH#AML#travelrule
Steven Merrill, head of the FBI’s Financial Crimes Section, said in an interview posted on the FBI’s website that potential victims are especially vulnerable right now because “for example, people are looking for medical attention and medical equipment. They also may be unemployed and looking for work.”
“There may be an extra level of desperation right now that may cause someone to make an emotional decision that could make them a victim,” Merill said.
Corona-infected bats for sale on the darknet
Other COVID-19 crimes involving cryptocurrency are downright creepy: in April, Chainalysis published research on a dark-market vendor selling what he claimed was coronavirus-infected blood, conveniently injected into the bodies of bats.
Taking a slightly less unorthodox (though still unethical) route, other darknet vendors sold personal protective equipment (PPE) on the darknet in exchange for cryptocurrencies.
However, John Jeffries explained that dark market crimes took the lions’ share of crypto transactions related to COVID-19: in other words, darknet criminals seem to be more interested in stealing money online than in buying corona-infected bats.
Fake Covid-19 PPE Products Don’t Sell On Dark Net Markets https://t.co/DwaSah5KDO Cryptocurrencies, to be sure, are cleaner than the reputation which precedes them. less than 0.2% of the funds accepted by exchanges is directly from criminal sources #darkmarket#bitcoin#AML
"I expect that the crypto fraud industry in 2020 will be bigger than in 2019"
With the coronavirus still playing a significant role of human societies across the globe, and heightened levels of fear and anxiety persisting, Nir Kshetri says that he believes that crypto scams could continue to proliferate throughout the globe.
“With the emergence of new COVID-19 themed frauds as well as the existing ones, I expect that the crypto fraud industry in 2020 will be bigger than in 2019,” he said.
Nir Kshetri, Professor in the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNCG and research fellow at Kobe University.
Similarly, CipherTrace’s John Jeffries said that although “it's nearly impossible to predict,” given the fact that “$1.4 billion was lost to crypto crimes during the first five months of 2020, it's very possible that by year's end the total netted by criminals could exceed 2019's $4.5 billion.”
“I am [also] concerned about exit scams later in 2020 by smaller VASPs that are struggling financially,” Jeffries added.
However, in the meantime, there is some positive news: Jeffries told Finance Magnates that “to the positive, the findings in our report illustrate that the amount of criminal funds directly received by exchanges dropped by 47% in 2019.”
“This trend in an ongoing annual reduction in criminal funds funneled through exchanges can be attributed in large part to the implementation of effective AML controls,” he explained.
2020 could bring more regulatory attention to various aspects of the crypto industry
Jeffries also predicts that this year could bring more regulatory attention to Bitcoin ATMS.
“Despite the overall reduction in criminal funds sent to exchanges, the percentage of funds sent to high-risk exchanges from US Bitcoin ATMs (BATMs) has seen exponential growth, doubling every year since 2017,” Jeffries said.
“We expect BATMs to become a greater point of regulatory focus and enforcement because of this, as demonstrated by the case made against Kunal Kalra for using his BATM operation to launder more than $25 million in cash and cryptocurrencies.”
More regulation in the crypto space could potentially reduce the impact of fraud in crypto over the long term. However, as long as cryptocurrency scams continue to appear anew within the space, investors and traders need to stay vigilant.
“Investors looking for returns in blockchains and cryptocurrencies should note that they are complex systems that are new even to those who are selling them,” Nir Kshetri said.
“Newcomers and relative experts have also fallen prey to scams. In an environment like the current cryptocurrency market combined with COVID-19, potential investors should be very careful to research before making investment decisions. Make sure to find out who is involved as well as what the actual plan is for making real money.”
Earlier this week, cybersecurity firm Cipher Trace published a report with findings that so far this year, nearly $1.4 billion dollars in cryptocurrency have been stolen by malicious actors.
On the surface of things, it looks as though the crypto space might be cleaning up its act: while the number is sizeable, the figure is considerably less than the amount of cryptocurrency that had been stolen around the same time last year; both 2019 and 2020 are showing exponential increase in thefts over 2018, when $1.7 billion was stolen through the year.
Specifically, CipherTrace’s Q2 report from 2019 revealed that $4.26 billion had been taken in the first six months of the year. The majority of the stolen funds in 2019 were taken in connection with PlusToken, a massive Ponzi scheme based out of China that made off with some $3 billion in crypto coins.
However, while scammers have taken quite a bit less this year than they had in 2019, there are some eerie similarities between this year’s crypto scam landscape and last year’s: specifically, most of this years’ stolen funds can be attributed to Wotoken, which--like PlusToken--is shaping up to be another large-scale Ponzi scheme with more than $1 billion in spoils.
Indeed, “the largest contributor to 2020's crypto crime total was Wotoken's billion-dollar Ponzi scheme out of China,” said John Jeffries, Chief Financial Analyst at CipherTrace, to Finance Magnates.
John Jefferies, Chief Financial Analyst at CipherTrace.
As such, “2020 is on track to be, at minimum, the second-highest year on record for the total amount netted by criminals from cryptocurrency crime,” he said. “However, it's possible that 2020's cryptocurrency crime numbers could exceed 2019's $4.5 billion.”
This may be particularly true if scams like PlusToken and Wotoken continue to permeate the cryptocurrency world. While Plustoken and Wotoken are certainly some of the most prominent examples, there are many others, including the infamous OneCoin scam, which made off with $4 billion over the course of several years.
Why do these scams continue to be so effective? And has the crypto scam landscape changed--or do crypto criminals keep singing the same old song?
Greed and altruism: Ponzi schemes are so successful because the play on peoples’ emotions
Nir Kshetri, Professor in the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNCG and research fellow at Kobe University, told Finance Magnates that Ponzi schemes continue to proliferate the cryptocurrency space because they are so effective.
Indeed, “the criminals behind crypto frauds are likely to utilize proven techniques that they have been using for quite some time,” Kshetri said. Specifically, “many cryptocurrency fraudsters appeal to people’s greed.”
In other words, these kinds of schemes are so successful because “they promise big returns.”
Indeed, high returns are essential in the crypto Ponzi playbook: they were a feature of Plustoken, Onecoin, and Bitconnect--another scam that was shut down in 2018.
Bitconnect guaranteed daily returns for users, with higher rates for investors who were willing to ‘lock’ more of their capital into the Bitconnect ‘network’ for longer periods of time.
“It doesn’t provide information on investment strategies, but somehow promises investors 1.2% daily returns.” Some of iCenter’s Facebook posts promised returns over 2.5% “according to your investment amount."
At press time, the iCenter website was down, and appeared to have been defunct for quite some; a message on the iCenter Telegram group (which had 4,432 subscribers) dating back to October 2018 said that “Our server provider is currently experiencing a technical issue. They are already aware of it and it should be sorted very soon. We appreciate your understanding, the Bot's should be working very soon. (sic)”
(Exit scam, anyone?)
Unwitting victims of crypto Ponzi schemes can recruit other victims
Another problem with these Ponzi schemes is that they don’t just play on peoples’ greed: they also insidiously play on peoples’ altruism.
After all, if you had just found an amazing, life-changing platform that would quickly multiply your savings, wouldn’t you also send it to your friends? Your neighbors? Your parents? Your grandma?
“Victims may [incidentally] exploit friends and family through social media,” Kshetri explained. “When one person is [taken in] by the promise of big returns on cryptocurrency investments, they may spread the word to friends and family members.”
These schemes also invoke the visages of trusted celebrities in order to reel in unwitting victims: “sometimes big names such as celebrities get involved, [although] not all the celebrities know they’re involved,” Kshetri continued.
For example, “the fraudsters behind iCenter featured a video that purported to be an endorsement by Dwayne’ ‘The Rock’ Johnson, holding a sign featuring iCenter’s logo. Videos of Justin Timberlake and Christopher Walken were deceptively edited so they appeared to praise iCenter, too.”
Coronavirus may have heightened susceptibility to crypto crimes online
While Ponzi schemes may play on peoples’ tendencies for greed and altruism, there’s another kind of cryptocurrency scam that is playing on another human emotion: fear.
After all, 2020 has been one of the most anxiety-filled periods of time in recent history; with coronavirus quarantines going into their third and fourth months, and protests raging in Hong Kong and North America, existential fear across the globe seems to be reaching a fever pitch.
CipherTrace’s John Jeffries told Finance Magnates that the Coronavirus pandemic in particular has “certainly made its mark in cybercrimes, especially as government resources and attention are funneled to mitigating impacts [of the virus] and oversight [on cybercrime] is reduced.”
Amid pandemic, crypto crime surges in first 5 months: CipherTrace - VASPs get cleaner - 75% of exchange payment cross borders - Bitcoin ATM users prefer high risk exchanges https://t.co/BAC6lEa85r#bitcoin#ETH#AML#travelrule
Steven Merrill, head of the FBI’s Financial Crimes Section, said in an interview posted on the FBI’s website that potential victims are especially vulnerable right now because “for example, people are looking for medical attention and medical equipment. They also may be unemployed and looking for work.”
“There may be an extra level of desperation right now that may cause someone to make an emotional decision that could make them a victim,” Merill said.
Corona-infected bats for sale on the darknet
Other COVID-19 crimes involving cryptocurrency are downright creepy: in April, Chainalysis published research on a dark-market vendor selling what he claimed was coronavirus-infected blood, conveniently injected into the bodies of bats.
Taking a slightly less unorthodox (though still unethical) route, other darknet vendors sold personal protective equipment (PPE) on the darknet in exchange for cryptocurrencies.
However, John Jeffries explained that dark market crimes took the lions’ share of crypto transactions related to COVID-19: in other words, darknet criminals seem to be more interested in stealing money online than in buying corona-infected bats.
Fake Covid-19 PPE Products Don’t Sell On Dark Net Markets https://t.co/DwaSah5KDO Cryptocurrencies, to be sure, are cleaner than the reputation which precedes them. less than 0.2% of the funds accepted by exchanges is directly from criminal sources #darkmarket#bitcoin#AML
"I expect that the crypto fraud industry in 2020 will be bigger than in 2019"
With the coronavirus still playing a significant role of human societies across the globe, and heightened levels of fear and anxiety persisting, Nir Kshetri says that he believes that crypto scams could continue to proliferate throughout the globe.
“With the emergence of new COVID-19 themed frauds as well as the existing ones, I expect that the crypto fraud industry in 2020 will be bigger than in 2019,” he said.
Nir Kshetri, Professor in the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNCG and research fellow at Kobe University.
Similarly, CipherTrace’s John Jeffries said that although “it's nearly impossible to predict,” given the fact that “$1.4 billion was lost to crypto crimes during the first five months of 2020, it's very possible that by year's end the total netted by criminals could exceed 2019's $4.5 billion.”
“I am [also] concerned about exit scams later in 2020 by smaller VASPs that are struggling financially,” Jeffries added.
However, in the meantime, there is some positive news: Jeffries told Finance Magnates that “to the positive, the findings in our report illustrate that the amount of criminal funds directly received by exchanges dropped by 47% in 2019.”
“This trend in an ongoing annual reduction in criminal funds funneled through exchanges can be attributed in large part to the implementation of effective AML controls,” he explained.
2020 could bring more regulatory attention to various aspects of the crypto industry
Jeffries also predicts that this year could bring more regulatory attention to Bitcoin ATMS.
“Despite the overall reduction in criminal funds sent to exchanges, the percentage of funds sent to high-risk exchanges from US Bitcoin ATMs (BATMs) has seen exponential growth, doubling every year since 2017,” Jeffries said.
“We expect BATMs to become a greater point of regulatory focus and enforcement because of this, as demonstrated by the case made against Kunal Kalra for using his BATM operation to launder more than $25 million in cash and cryptocurrencies.”
More regulation in the crypto space could potentially reduce the impact of fraud in crypto over the long term. However, as long as cryptocurrency scams continue to appear anew within the space, investors and traders need to stay vigilant.
“Investors looking for returns in blockchains and cryptocurrencies should note that they are complex systems that are new even to those who are selling them,” Nir Kshetri said.
“Newcomers and relative experts have also fallen prey to scams. In an environment like the current cryptocurrency market combined with COVID-19, potential investors should be very careful to research before making investment decisions. Make sure to find out who is involved as well as what the actual plan is for making real money.”
Rachel is a self-taught crypto geek and a passionate writer. She believes in the power that the written word has to educate, connect and empower individuals to make positive and powerful financial choices. She is the Podcast Host and a Cryptocurrency Editor at Finance Magnates.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
