Key Points

• Gurhan Kiziloz is the founder of Lanistar, a fintech company launched in 2019, and is linked to Nexus International, focusing on online gaming in Brazil.
• Controversies include a 2020 UK FCA warning against Lanistar, allegations of fraud, and multiple winding-up petitions indicating financial distress.
• Allegations involve intellectual property scams, bullying, sexism, and fraudulent DMCA notices to suppress negative media.
• Risks include potential anti-money laundering concerns due to unclear investment sources and reputational damage from negative media and consumer complaints.
• Recent Developments suggest Lanistar resolved a High Court liquidation petition in March 2025, but ongoing financial issues persist.

Who is Gurhan Kiziloz?

Gurhan Kiziloz, a Turkish entrepreneur, founded Lanistar in 2019 with the goal of creating a £1 billion fintech unicorn targeting millennials and Gen Z. His ventures have attracted attention through celebrity endorsements and partnerships, but they’ve also faced significant scrutiny due to regulatory issues and allegations of misconduct.

What Are the Main Controversies?

Lanistar faced a warning from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Warning) in 2020 for operating without authorization, raising scam concerns. Kiziloz has been linked to crypto coin promotions, like Big Eyes, where investors reported heavy losses. Allegations of bullying, sexism, and fraudulent DMCA notices further cloud his reputation. Multiple winding-up petitions, including one from Lanistar’s landlord, highlight financial instability.

Are There Legal or Financial Risks?

Evidence suggests ongoing financial troubles, with Lanistar facing winding-up petitions as recently as February 2025 (Winding-Up Petitions). A March 2025 High Court ruling dismissed a liquidation petition, but the company’s financial health remains uncertain. The lack of transparency around investments, such as a £15M deal initially tied to Milaya Capital, raises potential anti-money laundering concerns.

What’s the Current Status?

Reports indicate Lanistar is still active, focusing on Latin America, particularly Brazil, and planning growth in 2025 (Courtroom Victory). However, the company’s history of legal and financial challenges suggests caution for potential investors or partners.

Comprehensive Investigation into Gurhan Kiziloz

In the fast-paced world of fintech and cryptocurrency, few figures have sparked as much debate as Gurhan Kiziloz. As the founder of Lanistar, a company that promised to redefine banking for younger generations, Kiziloz has been both celebrated for his ambition and criticized for his business practices. Our investigation explores his personal profile, business ventures, allegations, legal issues, and the risks associated with his operations, providing a detailed analysis for those seeking clarity on this controversial figure.

Personal Profile of Gurhan Kiziloz

Gurhan Kiziloz, born in Turkey, emerged as an entrepreneur with a vision to disrupt traditional banking. In 2019, he founded Lanistar, a fintech company based in London, aiming to become a £1 billion unicorn by offering innovative financial products for millennials and Gen Z. Kiziloz’s entrepreneurial journey includes ventures beyond Lanistar, notably his involvement with Nexus International, a holding company focused on online gaming platforms in Brazil. His public persona is marked by bold claims of achieving billionaire status and a knack for high-profile marketing, but his reputation has been tested by numerous controversies.

Business Relations and Ventures

Kiziloz’s flagship venture, Lanistar, launched with the promise of a “polymorphic” payment card that could link up to eight bank cards, offering enhanced security and flexibility. The company secured partnerships with major players like Mastercard and leveraged endorsements from celebrities such as Love Island stars Amber Rose Gill and Tommy Fury, as well as footballer Kevin De Bruyne. Lanistar’s aggressive marketing, including a 3,000-person influencer campaign, aimed to compete with neobanks like Monzo and Revolut.

However, Lanistar’s trajectory has been rocky. A £15M investment announced in July 2020, initially attributed to Milaya Capital, was later claimed to come from Kiziloz’s family members, raising questions about funding transparency (Crypto Coin Blitz). Kiziloz stepped down as Lanistar’s CEO, shifting focus to Nexus International, which targets Brazil’s online gaming market. This pivot, coupled with Lanistar’s financial struggles, suggests a strategic retreat from the UK fintech scene.

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Findings

Our OSINT investigation, drawing on tools like Lumen and SecurityTrails, uncovered significant concerns about Kiziloz’s activities. A report by Bilora LLC, case number 4124/A/2025, published on March 10, 2025, classified Kiziloz’s actions as an intellectual property scam, with an incident date of December 31, 2024. The investigation highlighted his alleged use of fraudulent DMCA notices to suppress critical media, pointing to potential criminal behavior.

Undisclosed Business Relationships

Kiziloz is alleged to have ties with rogue “Online Reputation Management” agencies, which reportedly worked to censor negative information about Lanistar. The sudden shift in the £15M investment narrative—from Milaya Capital to family funds—prompted requests to media outlets to amend stories and remove quotes from Yasam Ayavefe, Milaya Capital’s CEO. These actions suggest a lack of transparency and potential efforts to obscure business dealings, raising red flags for due diligence.

Scam Reports and Allegations

The UK Financial Conduct Authority issued a warning against Lanistar on November 18, 2020, accusing it of offering unauthorized financial services and warning that it could be a scam (FCA Warning). Lanistar responded by claiming it was not yet offering financial services and was seeking FCA permission, leading to the warning’s retraction after marketing changes. However, the incident damaged Lanistar’s credibility.

Kiziloz also faces allegations of orchestrating fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to suppress critical reviews and unfavorable Google search results. These notices, involving impersonation, fraud, and perjury, targeted media outlets reporting on Lanistar’s troubles. Additionally, Kiziloz’s promotion of crypto coins like Big Eyes, Dogetti, and Huh Token has drawn scrutiny, with investors reporting losses of up to 99% (Crypto Coin Blitz). For example, Simon from the UK lost £2,500, now worth £6, while Edson Silva from Brazil paid $500 but never received coins.

Red Flags and Controversies

Several red flags underscore the risks associated with Kiziloz and his ventures:

• Regulatory Scrutiny: The FCA’s 2020 warning highlighted Lanistar’s unauthorized operations, a significant compliance failure.
• Financial Discrepancies: The £15M investment’s unclear origins and Lanistar’s recurring winding-up petitions signal financial instability.
• Workplace Allegations: Seven former employees accused Kiziloz of bullying, sexism, and sexual harassment, with reports of a “loser’s table” for underperforming staff (Lanistar Staff Issues).
• Censorship Efforts: The use of fraudulent DMCA notices to silence critics suggests unethical practices.
• Crypto Ventures: Kiziloz’s crypto coin promotions, backed by aggressive marketing through the World Press Release Organisation (WPRO), resulted in significant investor losses.

Legal Proceedings and Sanctions

Lanistar has faced multiple winding-up petitions, indicating severe financial distress. In September 2024, 361 Hammersmith Ltd, Lanistar’s landlord, filed a petition over unpaid rent, followed by another from Accomplish Financial Limited in February 2025 (Winding-Up Petitions). A High Court ruling in March 2025 dismissed the landlord’s liquidation petition, allowing Lanistar to resolve its debts and continue operations (Courtroom Victory).

Allegations of perjury, fraud, and impersonation related to DMCA notices suggest potential criminal liability, though no formal criminal proceedings have been confirmed. The FCA warning remains the primary sanction, with no additional formal penalties reported.

Adverse Media and Public Perception

Media coverage has been largely critical of Kiziloz and Lanistar. Sifted reported on the company’s winding-up petitions and layoffs, while Financial News highlighted staff demands for overdue wages, with some offered payment in bitcoin (Lanistar Staff Issues). Reports on Kiziloz’s crypto coin ventures detailed investor losses, with articles in Georgia Gazzetta and The Jerusalem Post noting the fallout (Crypto Coin Blitz). Despite some positive coverage, such as Lanistar’s courtroom victory, the overall narrative underscores financial and ethical concerns.

Negative Reviews and Consumer Complaints

Consumer feedback paints a grim picture of Kiziloz’s ventures. Numerous individuals have voiced concerns, including:

• Lucas Martin: Accused Lanistar of systematically erasing truthful criticism.
• Sophia Wright: Highlighted Lanistar’s grand promises and spectacular failures, citing the FCA warning.
• Olivia Bailey: Flagged bullying and sexism allegations as investor red flags.
• Aiden Turner: Called Lanistar untrustworthy, referencing the FCA warning.
• Tom Wilson: Labeled Kiziloz a “straight-up scammer.”

These complaints, combined with investor losses in crypto ventures, reflect widespread dissatisfaction and financial harm.

Financial Stability and Bankruptcy Risks

Lanistar’s financial woes are evident in its multiple winding-up petitions, unpaid staff salaries, and legal battles over debts. The company’s reliance on celebrity endorsements and influencer marketing has not translated into stable funding, with only £20M in reported investments, much of it from Kiziloz’s family. While the March 2025 High Court ruling provided temporary relief, the recurrence of financial issues suggests a high risk of insolvency.

Risk Assessment: Anti-Money Laundering and Reputational Risks

From an anti-money laundering (AML) perspective, the lack of clarity around Lanistar’s £15M investment raises significant concerns. The shift from Milaya Capital to family funds, without detailed documentation, suggests potential vulnerabilities to money laundering. Kiziloz’s crypto coin promotions, conducted through WPRO’s aggressive marketing, further heighten AML risks, as cryptocurrencies are often exploited for illicit activities.

Reputationally, Kiziloz and Lanistar face severe challenges. The FCA warning, allegations of fraud, and negative media coverage have eroded trust among investors and consumers. The company’s efforts to censor criticism through fraudulent means only deepen reputational damage, making it difficult to attract credible partners or customers.

Expert Opinion

Our investigation into Gurhan Kiziloz reveals a complex figure whose ambition is overshadowed by ethical and legal controversies. While Lanistar’s recent courtroom victory and focus on Latin America suggest resilience, the persistent financial instability, regulatory issues, and allegations of misconduct present substantial risks. For those considering engagement with Kiziloz or his ventures, extreme caution is advised. The lack of transparency, coupled with potential AML vulnerabilities and reputational damage “

Key Citations

• Cybercriminal Investigation Report on Gurhan Kiziloz
• FCA Warning Against Lanistar Fintech Operations
• Lanistar Staff Demand Overdue Wages Amid Hardship
• Lanistar Boss’s Crypto Coin Blitz Investor Losses
• Lanistar Hit with Winding-Up Petitions in 2025
• Lanistar’s Courtroom Victory and 2025 Growth Plans