The former chief executive of the collapsed cryptocurrency trading platform Hayvn has re-emerged working as a mortgage broker in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that Christopher Flinos, the former CEO of crypto firm Hayvn, boasting in an interview that his company was “quietly building perhaps the largest virtual asset business in the Middle East, but staying well away from the media spotlight.” In November 2022, the company gained media attention when it announced it was considering acquiring Sam Bankman-Fried’s collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX.
This past April, Flinos’ crypto enterprise fell apart when Abu Dhabi regulators him and Hayvn of “serious fraud” and failure to comply with anti-money laundering rule, resulting in a $3.3 million fine against Flino and a $7.1 million fine against his company. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority followed suit by revoked the company’s license and banned Flinos from being able to serve as a corporate director.
Today, is working at Balcombe Financial, a mortgage brokerage owned by his brother. Despite his problems with Havyn, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission said Flinos’ employment is legal provided he operates under the oversight of a licensed firm.
Flinos declined to comment on when contacted by the media. His brother, Michael Flinos, took a media phone call meant for him and answered, “That has nothing to do with me, thank you” before hanging up.
Photo of Christopher Flinos courtesy of Balcombe Financial
