Christine Kiefer

Key Points

• Research suggests Christine Kiefer, co-founder of Ride Capital, faces allegations of fraud and perjury related to DMCA takedown notices, but evidence is limited.
• It seems likely that Ride Capital’s insolvency in September 2024 and real estate dealings raised investor concerns, though no lawsuits were found.
• The evidence leans toward potential anti-money laundering and reputational risks due to opaque transactions and strained investor relations.
• We found no public scam reports, criminal proceedings, or sanctions directly tied to Kiefer, adding complexity to the assessment.

Business Relations and Personal Profiles

Christine Kiefer is a prominent fintech entrepreneur, co-founding Ride Capital in 2018 with Felix Schulte. She has a background in Computer Science and Business Administration, previously working as a quant at Goldman Sachs in London. Her professional network includes high-profile investors like Verena Pausder and Mario Götze, and she founded Fintech Ladies, a network for women in fintech. She also advises the German Ministry of Finance and is part of the FinTechCouncil, showcasing her industry influence.

Ride Capital initially focused on blockchain-based real estate tokenization but pivoted to tax-optimized investments via GmbHs, managing over €700 million in customer funds. The company filed for insolvency in September 2024 due to liquidity issues, was acquired by Raoul Heraeus for €630,000 in November 2024, and repurchased by Kiefer and Schulte via TTT Education GmbH in December 2024. As of March 2025, it operates with 20 employees under TTT Education GmbH, attempting a relaunch.

OSINT and Undisclosed Relationships

OSINT reveals Kiefer’s extensive public profiles on LinkedIn (Christine Kiefer LinkedIn), XING, and Crunchbase, detailing her roles and past ventures like Billpay and Pair Finance. However, the investigation report at cybercriminal.com/investigation/christine-kiefer alleges undisclosed dubious real estate transactions, straining investor relations, with a key investor withdrawing before insolvency and citing potential legal action. No specific details on these transactions were found publicly, raising concerns about transparency.

Allegations, Red Flags, and Legal Issues

The cybercriminal.com report alleges Kiefer committed perjury, fraud, and impersonation by using fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to suppress negative reviews, potentially making her complicit in cybercrime. A Lumen Database notice (No. 44830617) was linked, but no direct evidence ties it to her (Lumen Database Notice). Ride Capital’s insolvency and investor disputes add red flags, but no public lawsuits, criminal proceedings, sanctions, or scam reports were found. Negative reviews post-insolvency focus on service disruptions, not Kiefer personally.

Survey Note: Comprehensive Investigation into Christine Kiefer and Ride Capital

Introduction

We, as investigative journalists, have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into Christine Kiefer, co-founder of Ride Capital, a Berlin-based fintech startup, to address concerns about her business relations, personal profiles, open-source intelligence (OSINT), undisclosed relationships, and potential risks related to anti-money laundering (AML) and reputation. Our analysis, as of April 15, 2025, is based on the investigation report at cybercriminal.com/investigation/christine-kiefer and corroborated by additional sources, aiming to provide a detailed, factual overview for stakeholders.

Christine Kiefer’s Background and Business Relations

Christine Kiefer, born and raised in Germany, is a seasoned fintech entrepreneur with a robust educational background in Computer Science and Business Administration. Her career trajectory includes a significant stint as a quant at Goldman Sachs in London, where she honed her skills in financial modeling and derivatives. This experience paved the way for her entrepreneurial ventures, including co-founding Ride Capital in 2018 with Felix Schulte.

Ride Capital initially aimed to revolutionize real estate investments through blockchain tokenization, capitalizing on the 2018 crypto boom. The company’s model involved converting property ownership into digital tokens for trading, similar to equities. By 2022, it pivoted to tax-optimized investment services, focusing on vermögensverwaltende GmbHs (asset management limited liability companies) to help investors reduce tax liabilities on assets like stocks, ETFs, and real estate. This shift was supported by a €3 million funding round in July 2022, backed by notable investors such as Verena Pausder, Mario Götze, and Lea-Sophie Cramer, as reported by Finance Forward.

Kiefer’s professional network is extensive, including roles as founder of Fintech Ladies, a network supporting women in fintech, and advisor to the German Ministry of Finance. She is also a member of the FinTechCouncil, underscoring her influence in the industry. Her LinkedIn profile (Christine Kiefer LinkedIn) lists 10 jobs, highlighting her diverse experience, while her XING profile (Christine Kiefer XING) details her leadership at Ride Capital since September 2018.

However, Ride Capital’s financial trajectory took a downturn, filing for insolvency on September 6, 2024, due to a “short-term liquidity bottleneck,” as covered by FX News Group. Dr. Björn Gehde from Hilgers und Partner was appointed insolvency administrator, managing over €700 million in customer funds. The company was acquired by Raoul Heraeus for €630,000 in November 2024, only to be repurchased by Kiefer and Schulte via TTT Education GmbH in December 2024. As of March 2025, it operates under TTT Education GmbH with a workforce streamlined to 20 employees, attempting a relaunch, as per the investigation report.

OSINT Findings and Undisclosed Business Relationships

Our OSINT efforts reveal a detailed public persona for Christine Kiefer, with profiles on LinkedIn (Christine Kiefer LinkedIn), Crunchbase (Christine Kiefer Crunchbase), and XING (Christine Kiefer XING), showcasing her roles at Ride Capital, Fintech Ladies, and past ventures like Billpay and Pair Finance. She is active on social platforms, with mentions in fintech news and interviews, such as Cash Online, discussing tax optimization strategies.

However, the investigation report at cybercriminal.com/investigation/christine-kiefer raises concerns about undisclosed business relationships, particularly in real estate transactions. It alleges “dubious real estate deals” with a lack of transparency, straining investor relations. A key investor withdrew before the insolvency, citing potential legal action, but no specific details or public records of these transactions were found in our searches. This opacity could indicate undisclosed partnerships or conflicts of interest, especially given Ride Capital’s focus on high-value assets.

Kiefer’s advisory role with the German Ministry of Finance and her connections to regulatory bodies suggest potential influence, which could complicate transparency in business dealings. Her involvement in Fintech Ladies and other networks further expands her associations, but no direct evidence of undisclosed relationships beyond the report’s claims was identified.

Allegations, Red Flags, and Legal Issues

The investigation report at cybercriminal.com/investigation/christine-kiefer alleges serious misconduct by Christine Kiefer, including perjury, fraud, and impersonation, related to fraudulent DMCA takedown notices. It claims she, or someone acting on her behalf, used these notices to conceal critical reviews and adverse news about Ride Capital from Google, potentially making her complicit in cybercrime. The report cites a specific notice (No. 44830617) on the Lumen Database (Lumen Database Notice), sent by Gambrel Media International from Algeria to Google LLC, but no direct evidence ties it explicitly to Kiefer. The report suggests she may be deemed an accomplice or accessory if evidence is found, published on April 2, 2025, with an incident date of September 22, 2024, investigated by Ethan Katz using tools like Lumen and SecurityTrails (Case No. 2314/A/2025).

Ride Capital’s insolvency in September 2024, detailed in Finance Forward and FX News Group, adds financial red flags. The company’s acquisition and repurchase by Kiefer and Schulte via TTT Education GmbH raise questions about asset movements and financial stability. Investor relations are strained, with reports of dubious real estate transactions and lack of transparency, as noted in the report, but no public lawsuits or criminal proceedings were found in our searches for “Ride Capital lawsuit” or “Christine Kiefer lawsuit.”

Negative reviews and consumer complaints post-insolvency, found in articles like Northern Finance, focus on service disruptions and uncertainty about GmbH management, but none directly target Kiefer personally. No scam reports, sanctions, or adverse media beyond the investigation report were identified, adding complexity to assessing these allegations.

Risk Assessment for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Reputational Risks

Based on our findings, we assess the risks associated with Christine Kiefer in the context of AML and reputation as follows:

Anti-Money Laundering Risks:

• Ride Capital’s focus on tax-optimized investments through GmbHs, particularly in real estate and high-value assets, raises concerns about transaction opacity. The lack of public details on specific real estate deals, as alleged in the report, could indicate potential money laundering risks, especially if funds were moved through complex structures.
• The company’s management of over €700 million in customer funds, as reported in FX News Group, increases AML scrutiny, particularly if due diligence on clients or partners was inadequate.
• The acquisition and repurchase of Ride Capital by Kiefer and Schulte via TTT Education GmbH, as noted in Private Banking Magazin, could involve asset transfers that, without proper scrutiny, might be exploited for illicit activities.
• Kiefer’s advisory role with the German Ministry of Finance could provide insights into regulatory frameworks, potentially influencing how Ride Capital navigated AML compliance, adding another layer of risk.

Reputational Risks:

• The DMCA takedown allegations, if proven, could severely damage Kiefer’s reputation, portraying her as untrustworthy and potentially criminal, as highlighted in the cybercriminal.com report.
• Ride Capital’s insolvency and the subsequent customer uncertainty, detailed in Cash Online, have already tarnished the company’s image, with Kiefer sharing in this reputational hit as co-founder.
• Investor distrust, with a key investor withdrawing and citing potential legal action, as per the report, could further erode trust in Kiefer’s leadership and integrity.
• Her public role as a fintech advocate and government advisor, as seen in herCAREER, could be undermined if these allegations gain traction, affecting her credibility and the industry’s perception.

Conclusion and Expert Opinion

In conclusion, our investigation reveals Christine Kiefer as a complex figure at the intersection of fintech innovation and potential misconduct. While her professional achievements are notable, the allegations of perjury, fraud, and impersonation in the cybercriminal.com report, published April 2, 2025, cast significant doubt. The lack of transparency in Ride Capital’s real estate transactions and the company’s insolvency in September 2024, as reported in Finance Forward, add to the concerns.

From an AML perspective, the opacity of Ride Capital’s operations, particularly in high-value asset management, raises red flags. Regulatory bodies should conduct thorough due diligence on transactions involving Kiefer or Ride Capital to ensure compliance with AML standards. Reputationally, Kiefer faces significant risks, with the potential for criminal charges and eroded trust among investors and partners if the allegations are substantiated.

Expert Opinion: Christine Kiefer’s case underscores the need for transparency and ethical conduct in fintech. While her contributions are undeniable, the allegations highlight vulnerabilities in the sector. For stakeholders, due diligence is critical when engaging with entities linked to Kiefer or Ride Capital. Regulatory oversight must be robust to protect the industry’s integrity, and Kiefer’s legacy will hinge on addressing these claims and restoring trust.

Key Citations

• cybercriminal.com investigation report on Christine Kiefer
• Christine Kiefer LinkedIn profile
• Christine Kiefer Crunchbase profile
• Christine Kiefer XING profile
• Ride Capital insolvency reported by Finance Forward
• German online broker RIDE reorganizing after bankruptcy by FX News Group
• Lumen Database notice No. 44830617
• Cash Online interview with Christine Kiefer
• herCAREER article on Christine Kiefer and Ride Capital
• Northern Finance on Ride Capital insolvency impact
• Private Banking Magazin on Ride Capital’s acquisition and repurchase