Michael Bianchi | FinTelegram News

Tag: Michael Bianchi

June 15, 2022

Notorious Maltese XNT Fined With €244k For Failed Anti-Money-Laundering Procedures!

XNT LTD (previously known as Exante Ltd) is a Maltese investment firm regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). On 13 June 2022, the FIAU announced that it had fined XNT Ltd €244,679 over a series of anti-money laundering shortcomings. The Maltese regulator said the company did not fulfill its anti-money laundering obligations by not assessing and appropriately obtaining information on the purpose and intended nature of their clients' business relations.

March 3, 2022

Russian-Maltese Exante still operating in Malta and Cyprus despite Russia’s blacklisting

Exante Group is a Maltese-Russian investment venture with XNT LTD (previously known as Exante Ltd), an investment firm regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), and EXT Ltd, an investment firm regulated by CySEC. Exante has a long story of investigations by authorities in the U.S. In 2021, the Russian Central Bank blacklisted Exante and its CySEC-regulated entity. An investigation by The Shift found that the Exante companies are still operating. It is still listed as a member firm of the Malta Stock Exchange (MSE).

November 25, 2021

Regulatory Monitor – Malta’s XNT hit by resignations of its directors!

XNT LTD (previously known as Exante Ltd) is an investment firm incorporated in Malta and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). Three directors resigned during the past months, namely Joseph Zammit Tabona, Michael Bianchi, and Lawrence Zammit. The present directors are Alexey Kirienko and Anatoly Knyazev; they have links with former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, allegedly the most corrupt politician in 2019.

Financial Intelligence Report: Lykke Exchange Collapse

Swiss crypto exchange Lykke has collapsed following a major security breach in June 2024, resulting in the loss of approximately $22 million in customer funds. The incident led to the suspension of trading activities, bankruptcy proceedings, and significant financial losses for investors. This report analyzes the events leading to Lykke's downfall, the impact on stakeholders, and the ongoing legal actions.

Hunting Down: Background on The Arrest of Garantex Co-Founder Aleksej Bešciokov in India!

On March 13, 2025, Indian authorities arrested Aleksej Bešciokov, a Lithuanian national and alleged co-founder of the sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, in Kovalam, Kerala. The arrest followed an international law enforcement action Bešciokov now awaits extradition to Lithuania on charges of money laundering, sanctions evasion, and facilitating ransomware transactions.

Call to Whistleblowers: What Is the World Economic Council (WEC) Really Up To?

The financial world in Europe is still reeling from the collapse of Rene Benko’s Signa Group, one of the largest and most scandalous bankruptcies in European history. Amid the rubble, a curious pattern has emerged: leading figures from the World Economic Council (WEC) — including Robert Schimanko, Thomas Limberger, and their legal advisor and business partner William H. Shawn — have quietly moved into strategic leadership positions within foundations linked to Benko.

Kraken’s $1.5 Billion NinjaTrader Acquisition Signals Bold Expansion Ahead of 2026 IPO

Kraken has acquired NinjaTrader in a $1.5 billion deal, marking a strategic leap toward uniting traditional finance with the crypto ecosystem. The move not only diversifies Kraken’s offerings but also sets the stage for its anticipated public listing in 2026. The timing aligns with renewed optimism in the crypto sector, driven by expectations of more favorable regulatory conditions under U.S. President Trump.

FinTelegram

Profile & Regulatory Analysis: Russian-Israeli Crypto Banker Moriel Carmi (formerly Mark Weinstein) and the Case for FCA Scrutiny

This report presents a comprehensive and objective profile of Moriel Carmi, a Russian-born Israeli financier previously known as Mark Mikhailovich Weinstein, who has emerged at the center of a growing network of high-risk payment processors and crypto service providers. Following a landmark ruling by the AIFC Court in Kazakhstan, questions now arise about Carmi’s regulatory fitness within the UK, where he operates the FCA-regulated e-money institution TomPay Ltd.