Originally Syndicated on June 7, 2024 @ 8:08 am
In the fast-changing field of cryptocurrency regulation, the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) highlights the importance of utmost transparency, especially for issuers of stablecoins.
The former founder and COO, as well as the founder and CEO of the emerging stablecoin issuer StablR, recently made a provocative statement. Although it could be partially true, there is a possibility that it will mislead prospective investors.
The Presented Narrative
Gijs op de Weegh, a national from the Netherlands, serves as the CEO and founder of StablR, a stablecoin issuer where he is responsible for strategy, operations, and managing investor relations.
On August 2, 2024, he expressed his excitement about the new EU crypto regulation, MiCAR, in an interview with Blockworks, emphasizing its potential advantages for stablecoin issuers.
While his optimistic opinion on regulatory changes is admirable, the accompanying biography presents an incomplete depiction of his professional background. In this brief bio, Payvision, under Gijs op de Weegh’s leadership, is described as a billion-dollar enterprise. It may sounds impressive, but it only tells part of the story, misleading readers about both the author and the CEO of StablR.
Payvision Reality
Op de Weegh’s biography mentions that he co-founded Payvision, a payment processor catering to high-risk markets, in 2002. He takes pride in stating that under his guidance, Payvision expanded to over 300 employees and achieved a turnover surpassing €4 billion.
While this might initially appear as a strong endorsement of his leadership skills and industry expertise, it fails to address several important and problematic aspects of Payvision’s history.
During op de Weegh’s time as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Payvision became strongly involved in money laundering operations and cybercrime. They even have charges for breaching financial laws and money laundering.
As a result, law enforcement agencies levied heavy fines against Payvision and its accountable executives.
Untold Facts and FinTech
It should be noted that Gijs op de Weegh was responsible for signing agreements with merchants engaged in deceitful practices.
A particularly infamous client was an Israeli national who faced conviction for money laundering and investment fraud. The businesses associated with Barak, which were accepted by Payvision under op de Weegh’s supervision, swindled tens of thousands of small investors, siphoning hundreds of millions of euros into unlawful operations.
Another cybercrime mastermind linked with Payvision was a German individual who passed away in prison in 2020. Although his criminal history featured several convictions for fraud, Lenhoff became a reseller of Payvision.
He operated a web of scams, including Option888, defrauding tens of thousands of victims. Despite these significant issues, Payvision was sold to ING in 2018 for a valuation of €360 million.
However, the legacy of misconduct and regulatory violations led ING to ditch Payvision in October 2021, just three years after the acquisition, resulting in a loss of hundreds of millions.
Currently, Payvision and its parent company, ING, are facing lawsuits from the victims of Barak and Lenhoff, who accuse them of enabling the fraudulent schemes and contributing to the fraud. The findings from law enforcement support the victims’ assertions. The Dutch investigative platform Follow the Money depicted the then-CEO and Gijs op de Weegh as FinTech cowboys, suggesting they knew how to navigate these issues effectively.
Looking for Transparency
The MiCAR framework expects strict transparency requirements for stablecoin issuers, with the goal of safeguarding investors and upholding market integrity. In this regard, the selective sharing of op de Weegh’s professional history raises concerns. Investors and stakeholders in StablR are entitled to a comprehensive and truthful representation of his background, including the entirety of his involvement with Payvision.
Although op de Weegh’s accomplishments and perspectives on the advantages of MiCAR hold value, failing to address the more controversial elements of his career may lead to investor misconceptions. Complete transparency is not merely a regulatory obligation; it is a critical component of fostering trust within the unpredictable and emerging crypto market.
Conclusion
As MiCAR progressively influences the regulatory scenario for crypto-assets within the EU, prominent figures such as Gijs op de Weegh are required to deliver thorough and honest representations of their professional backgrounds.
While the summarized biography may serve the purpose of cultivating a favourable public image, it does not meet the level of transparency expected by regulators and investors alike. FinTelegram encourages all parties involved to insist on complete transparency to facilitate well-informed choices in the crypto environment.
