The exchange claims such reports are “unfounded.”
The founder of a Turkish cryptocurrency exchange has reportedly fled the country with billions of dollars in user assets. According to local media reports, Turkey has issued an international arrest warrant for Faruk Fatih Özer, who has allegedly been spotted leaving Turkey via Istanbul airport in order to enter Albania. Özer, the CEO and founder of the Thodex cryptocurrency exchange platform, has allegedly taken approximately $2 billion in funds with him which belongs to 391,000 investors. On Thursday, Istanbul-based Thodex posted a notice on its website informing users that the exchange would be closed for several days in order to handle a « sales » process. However, suddenly unable to access their cryptocurrency accounts or withdraw funds, users began to voice concerns that they had been scammed. Thousands of Turkish citizens have now filed criminal complaints against the company, alleging that they have been victims of an exit scheme. A lawyer acting for the complainants said the allegedly stolen funds were « irretrievable.
