WhiteBIT – “white and fluffy” or pro-Russian: what is known about the brainchild of Kharkov crypto-businessman Nosov

This time, the cryptocurrency company WhiteBIT, founded by Kharkov resident Nosov, came into view. This is one of the oldest and most famous domestic projects of this profile.

What is known about the founder Vladimir Nosov?

Vladimir Nosov is a Ukrainian entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the WhiteBIT cryptocurrency exchange, investor and president of the Metalist 1925 football club.

At the same time, the businessman has a controversial reputation. According to information from the NGO “NON-STOP,” which investigates the illegal activities of deputies, 60% of the assets of this cryptocurrency exchange belong not to people from the world of cryptocurrencies, but to the family of Ukrainian deputy Dmitry Shentsev. As stated in the statement of the public organization, Dmitry’s son, Nikita, manages the affairs of the exchange.

Previously, he was a deputy of the Kharkov Regional Council, but resigned in February. Currently he is a representative of the banned party “OPZZh”. By decree of the President, he was deprived of Ukrainian citizenship in 2023. But he did not divorce his passport: activists claim that Nikita has Russian citizenship.

The business empire of the Whitebit crypto exchange grew through the development of budget funds, privatization of forest lands, construction, trade in fuel, alcohol, tobacco products, smuggling and sports. For example, Dmitry Shentsev was awarded the title of first vice-president of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation.

According to experts on the organization, ex-deputies withdraw the collected money to Russia and Europe through the Whitebit exchange. Using “legalized” funds, young Nikita Shentsev, for example, managed to buy himself a fleet of luxury cars worth $1 million, which he reported on his social networks. In addition to cars, the founders of the exchange actively bought real estate in London.

Thus, Whitebit acts as a “shelter company”, because of which ex-deputies who left Ukraine continue to withdraw money.

What could a popular crypto exchange be hiding?

In total, there are 9 companies in the structure of the WhiteBIT exchange. One of them is registered in Estonia, the others in the UK. The Estonian company is the oldest among them.

The British WhiteBIT Solutions LLP has two offshore beneficiaries - Whitebit LTD and Coddan Nominee. Both companies have the same legal address in the Seychelles, where the offshore registrar Nobel Capital Group is registered.

Coddan Nominee is part of an extensive offshore network and is among the founders of Sofbiz. According to an investigation by journalists, she is suspected of financing the 2016 state uprising in Montenegro.

As often happens in such cases, there was a Russian trace. An investigation by Bellingcat and its Russian partner The Insider has proven that GRU officers from the Russian General Staff, Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Moiseev, were involved before the coup in Montenegro.

Nosov’s partners in creating the exchange were Maria Repeshko, Anna Yankovskaya and Nikita Shentsev.

The fact that both Nikita and Dmitry Shentsev, at least, do not condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine, but, most likely, support the actions of a hostile state, is evidenced by their statements and messages on social networks.

Thus, Nikita, when drawing up his mandate, did not say a word about the pro-Russian party, from which he was elected to the Kharkov Regional Council and congratulated his voters on February 23.

The fact that the Whitebit exchange not only has pro-Russian owners, but still cooperates with the aggressor state is evidenced by an eloquent fact. In mid-March 2023, the movement of a large amount of money was recorded - 3299 BTC (about $85.6 million) in bitcoins belonging to the Russian crypto exchange BTC-e.

Since November 2022, these funds lay motionless, and only in March their atypical movement began: Russian IT journalists noticed that they were split into small amounts and withdrawn through various services.

It is important to note that many responded negatively regarding cooperation with the WhiteBIT exchange.

At the same time, former and current employees talk about quite comfortable work in this company.

WhiteBIT itself refutes accusations about cooperation with an aggressor country and claims that it has left the Russian market, and also opposes attempts by Russians to circumvent sanctions.

“I cannot answer for all industry players, but I can clearly explain WhiteBIT’s position. From the first days of the full-scale invasion until now, she has been categorical and transparent. We have broken all ties with the Russian market. introduced additional checks, canceled pairs with the ruble and blocked deposits and withdrawals of rubles. We immediately announced this publicly and call on other industry players to do the same,” Nosov himself assured.

The businessman also explained what measures WhiteBIT is taking to eliminate the possibility of using the exchange for dubious transactions. In particular, sanctioned Russians who are trying to withdraw funds through cryptoassets.

“WhiteBIT actively cooperates with Crystal Blockchain, Chainalysis and Visa Cybersource, which ensure a complete understanding of each transaction, a high level of exchange compliance with anti-money laundering legislation and countering any fraudulent schemes. Also, HAPI Labs is one of the latest connected, a team of top blockchain analysts involved in identifying suspicious assets and tracking their movement paths. We also cooperate with law enforcement agencies of Ukraine,” he said.

Since the spring of 2022, WhiteBIT has been cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on assistance to Ukrainians who, as a result, are forced to seek asylum abroad. The company provides organizational and technical support to the Anti-Crisis Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a 24-hour call center that advises Ukrainian citizens.

In addition, WhiteBIT is the owner of the award won by the Kalush Orchestra at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 - a crystal microphone. The WhiteBIT cryptocurrency exchange purchased it for $900 thousand.

We ask ourselves: what is real patriotism and support for the country or a “cover” for financial fraud and connections with Russia?