Clarification on BCSC case and Vanbex proceedings
You may have found this page after searching my name and seeing older articles or references to legal matters.
I believe in transparency, so I want to clearly explain what happened, what did not happen, and where you can see the primary source documents for yourself.
These are answers to the most common questions I receive.
Q1: Have you ever been found liable in a $13M BCSC fraud case?
Short answer: No.
There is no B.C. Securities Commission (BCSC) decision or order finding me liable in any case or investigation.
My name does not appear in the BCSC’s news release or decisions, and I am not a party to any proceeding.
At least one small website has published an article that incorrectly pastes my name into a $13M BCSC case as if I were the subject of those findings. I have been actively working to have that article corrected or removed, and I have notified Google, the registrar, and other relevant parties that it is false and defamatory.
If you see any content claiming that I was found liable, it is misattributed and does not reflect the actual regulator record.
Q2: What happened with Vanbex?
I founded a company called Vanbex in 2013, in 2016 a new CEO and group of his investors took over. In 2019, civil forfeiture proceedings were initiated in British Columbia in connection with Vanbex and its activities. Those proceedings led to a wave of media coverage at the time, much of it focused on the actions of the CEO and the fact that some assets were frozen while the case was pending. I was pulled in as I was still listed as a Director and Shareholder despite having no operational or financial control.
A few key points to understand:
The matter was civil, not criminal.
The allegations were contested and were never proven in court.
There was a lengthy process in which the authorities reviewed the situation in detail.
The important part is the outcome:
The civil forfeiture proceedings have been fully resolved.
The allegations against me were dismissed. No charges were ever laid. Assets that had been frozen were returned.
There is no finding of wrongdoing or liability against me arising out of those proceedings.
I have published a press release summarizing that resolution and linking to relevant documents. Some media outlets have also covered the resolution; others still have only the original 2019 coverage, which can look misleading if viewed without the final outcome.
If you have questions about Vanbex, I encourage you to look at both the original reporting and the later resolution so you have the full picture.
Q3: Where can I see primary documents?
I strongly prefer that people read the primary sources rather than rely on illegitimate news sites, or hearsay or out-of-date coverage.
Here are the main documents you can review:
BCSC – ezBtc / $13M case (not involving me)
These show that the $13M trading platform case relates to ezBtc and its founder, not to me.
BCSC news release describing the decision in the ezBtc case
BCSC decision(s) in the matter concerning ezBtc and its founder (findings and sanctions)
This can also be verified directly on the BCSC website here by searching my name:
Vanbex civil proceedings – Resolution
My press release: “Resolution of Court Case and Dismissal of Allegations for Vanbex Group”
Summarizes the conclusion of the proceedings, dismissal of allegations against me, and return of assets. Any subsequent articles or coverage that report on the resolution.
For obvious reasons, I am not hosting copies of all court documents on this page, but if you have a legitimate need to review something specific, you can contact me and I can point you to the appropriate public sources.
How does this experience shape your views on governance?
Over the past decade in blockchain, crypto, and now AI and robotics, I’ve seen first-hand how gaps in governance, controls, and communication can lead to misunderstanding, risk, and reputational damage—even when people are trying to build real things. My current work is deeply influenced by that:
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I advocate for real governance in early-stage AI and crypto projects: clear separation of duties, treasury controls, audits, and board oversight.
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I design systems with traceability and accountability in mind—both for financial flows and for AI cognition and decision-making.
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I care a lot about building companies and technologies in a way that will still make sense and hold up to scrutiny years later.
I can’t control every narrative about my past, but I can control how I show up now: with more structure, more transparency, and a commitment to doing difficult things in a responsible way.
If you are a journalist, regulator, partner, or community organization and would like to discuss any of this in more detail, you can reach me at: