KIWIsmart, a cryptocurrency trading bot platform, has surfaced with no clear information regarding its ownership or operational leadership. Rick Fleshman, a figure previously associated with the collapsed Ormeus Global Ponzi scheme, appears to be at the helm as founder. The company’s website domain was privately registered on August 20th, 2021, while promotional materials suggest a delayed or possibly rebooted launch, with a "Zoom launch event" slated for January 29th, despite promotional videos appearing four months prior.
The list of individuals linked to KIWIsmart's launch webinars includes Rick Fleshman, Alex Ruiz, Syed Jawad Haider, "Tatjana," Jonas Todorovic, Mike Soh, Malik Atif, Christi Chitic, and Gian Luca Gallo. Fleshman, based in California, was a co-founder of Ormeus Global. This entity operated as a Ponzi scheme under multiple names, including IQ Chain and IQ Legacy, before collapsing in 2019 following the arrest of John Barksdale. Barksdale has since continued promoting a similar scheme as "Ormeus Ecosystem." Fleshman also leads iAM Marketing, where Barksdale serves as founder and chairman, suggesting a continued association between the two.
Further complicating the leadership picture, Javier Canales, a former executive who headed Ormeus Global's compliance department, is also involved with KIWIsmart. The platform initiated a soft launch in August 2021, according to internal communications. KIWIsmart markets an automated trading bot named Ki100, described as a simplified cryptocurrency trading assistant connected via API to a user's wallet. No technical or ownership details for Ki100 are provided. The platform also offers access to third-party passive investment schemes, including "liquidity pools" and "yield farming," terms often associated with Ponzi-like operations in the cryptocurrency space.
Access to KIWIsmart's trading bot and investment opportunities is facilitated through "trading credits." These credits are purchased from KIWIsmart affiliates in packages ranging from $70 for 90 credits to $10,000 for 5750 credits. The lack of transparency surrounding ownership, the history of key figures with collapsed Ponzi schemes, and the nature of the marketed investment opportunities raise significant concerns about KIWIsmart's legitimacy. Investors should exercise extreme caution and conduct thorough due diligence before engaging with the platform.