Marked as
Last updated - December 16, 2025
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Gurhan Kiziloz founded Lanistar in 2019 as a UK fintech to simplify money management. Its app unites cards, payments, and crypto like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Expanding to Brazil and the UAE, the company targets global growth but faces regulatory warnings and financial challenges along the way.
Founder
High Risk
Based on the available data, we advise consumers to avoid this Individual altogether.
This advisory is based on an aggregate risk score derived from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified in our research.
You are likely to be at great risk by engaging in any sort of consumer-related activity with this entity.
Based on the available data, we recommend that employees exercise extreme caution or reconsider association with this Individual.
This advisory stems from an aggregate risk score compiled from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors uncovered in our analysis.
You are likely to face significant risks by pursuing or maintaining employment with this entity.
Based on the available data, we urge investors and bankers to avoid financial involvement with this Individual.
This advisory is informed by an aggregate risk score based on OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified through our investigation.
Engaging in investment or lending activities with this entity poses a substantial risk to your financial interests.
Safe to Onboard
Enhanced Due Diligence required
Do Not Onboard
Monitor adverse media every 6 months
File SAR (Suspicious Activity Report) is warranted
Escalation to compliance committee
None
Nationality
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Primary Role
Main Company
Fintech Venture
Revenue 2024
Revenue Target
H1 Revenue 2025
Global Ranking
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Crypto Link
Offshore Ties
Lanistar was warned by the UK Financial Conduct Authority in 2020 for offering financial services without authorization, with suggestions it might be a scam.
Former employees have alleged bullying, sexism, a “loser’s table” for missing targets, and unethical pressure to produce biased marketing content.
It is alleged that Lanistar and its PR arm WPRO promoted meme coins (such as Big Eyes, Dogetti, Huh Token) with aggressive marketing that left investors suffering significant losses.
Staff have reported mass layoffs and unpaid salaries owed to former employees and contractors by Lanistar/WPRO.
Ex-staff have alleged that employees were incentivized to write positive reviews of Lanistar on sites like Glassdoor to improve public perception.
There are allegations of murky financial foundations, unclear external funding, lack of audited financials, and opaque business relationships in his companies.
Regulatory and Compliance Screening
Litigation and Legal Proceedings
Reputational and Adverse Media Risks
Geographic and Jurisdictional Risk
What you see here scratches the surface
We offer reward for actionable intel
Gurhan Kiziloz turned early fintech failures into gaming success, building Nexus International toward near-billionaire status.
First Detected
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Primary Keyword
Gurhan Kiziloz's Lanistar aimed to disrupt banking with a polymorphic card but faced regulatory and delivery challenges.
Other Red-Flags and Adverse News
Based on user engagement on this review profile, ProConsumer will decide to publish its Risk Audit report for public if a threshold engagement, traffic and user input is achieved.
Known Assets: [Real estate, investments, companies]
Suspicious Transactions
Liabilities: [Bankruptcies, defaults, debts]
Wealth Sources: [Legitimate / Unclear / High-risk]
Bank Relationships
Ultimate Beneficial Owner(s) (UBOs)
Shareholding structure
Associated entities & subsidiaries
Offshore / shell company links
Trusts / Nominee arrangements
Business Model Assessment
All comments are user-generated content and may not be verified. They represent the personal opinions of the public and should not be relied upon. These comments do not influence or determine our overall rating.
1.3
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1.5
2.5
Highly experienced
Well-recognized name
Faced allegations of scamming others
Allegedly sold fake silver
Sued multiple times
Unregulated industry
Alarming number of complaints online
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His ventures have faced repeated allegations of questionable business practices. Although marketed as legitimate opportunities, concerns about transparency and regulatory compliance persist. Potential partners and investors should exercise caution before engagement.
1/5
2/5
3/5
While Gurhan Kiziloz is portrayed as an innovative fintech entrepreneur, his ventures have faced significant regulatory warnings and persistent allegations of questionable business practices. The history of compliance challenges, opaque corporate structures, and widespread consumer and employee complaints raise serious concerns about governance and transparency.
Ties to opaque offshore structures, workplace toxicity allegations including bullying and sexism, and a pattern of overhyped ventures collapsing under scrutiny raise profound ethical concerns.driven by scam accusations, multiple lawsuits, and high online complaints, strongly advise caution in any financial or professional engagement.
Mr. Gurhan Kiziloz faces widespread allegations of fraud and deception through Lanistar's unauthorized operations and promotion of failed crypto projects like Big Eyes Coin and BlockDAG, resulting in significant investor losses.Reports highlight regulatory warnings from the FCA, unpaid staff wages, and aggressive use of fraudulent DMCA takedowns to suppress critical media and consumer complaints.
Dude is grifting AGAIN with BlockDAG Network
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Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, has faced repeated accusations of personal misconduct including a 2021 lawsuit alleging he stole a startup’s work to launch ResearchHub alongside mounting corporate scandals under his leadership.Coinbase suffered a €21.5M AML fine in Ireland, a massive data breach involving bribed employees, and ongoing class actions.
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Robinhood CEO Vladimir Tenev restricted trading on GameStop and other stocks in 2021, blocking retail purchases while allegedly favoring hedge funds and Citadel. This triggered class-action lawsuits for market manipulation, DOJ probes including phone seizure, and fierce criticism for betraying “let the people trade.”
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Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Group faces severe allegations from Viceroy Research of operating a parasitic holding structure that drains cash from subsidiaries like Vedanta Ltd through excessive dividends, unjustified brand fees, hidden high-interest debt, inflated assets, and potential Ponzi-like mechanisms, risking insolvency and creditor harm.
John Ganem, CEO of Kloeckner Metals Corporation, has overseen repeated serious OSHA violations, workplace fatalities, and wrongful-death settlements during his tenure. Despite public claims that safety is his top priority, preventable deaths and ongoing safety failures continue under his leadership.
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