Arsyan Ismail

{
  "subject_name": "Arsyan Ismail",
  "type": "person",
  "overall_score": 72,
  "research_sources": "Claude, GPT, Grok, Gemini",
  "research_date": "2026-02-21",
  "source_registry": [
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-001",
      "url": "https://fintechnews.my/56445/blockchain/ai-com-domain-sale-kris-marszalek-malaysian-arsyan-ismail-70-million/",
      "title": "Malaysian Sells AI.com Domain to Crypto.com for Record US$70 Million",
      "publisher": "Fintech News Malaysia",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-002",
      "url": "https://news.shib.io/2026/02/10/industry-celebrates-the-new-70m-domain-mogul-but-his-crypto-shadows-linger/",
      "title": "Industry Celebrates the New $70M Domain Mogul But His Crypto Shadows Linger",
      "publisher": "The Shib Daily",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-003",
      "url": "https://deeperinsights.com/news/ai-com-story-the-media-ignored/",
      "title": "AI.com Story the Media Ignored: $11M to $70M, Not $100",
      "publisher": "Deeper Insights",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-004",
      "url": "https://behindmlm.com/mlm-reviews/bitkingdom-review-malaysian-mmm-global-ponzi-clone/",
      "title": "BitKingdom Review: Malaysian MMM Global Ponzi Clone",
      "publisher": "BehindMLM",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-005",
      "url": "https://www.change.org/p/bitkingdom-members-malaysia-government-to-take-action-against-bitkingdom-org-founder-datuk-mohammad-fadino/u/22539177",
      "title": "Who is Arsyan Ismail – Programmer behind Dato Fadino's Scam",
      "publisher": "Change.org",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-006",
      "url": "https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/hosting-company-used-extremists-received-3-million-bitcoin-after-2021-hack/",
      "title": "Hosting Company Used by Extremists Received $3 Million in Bitcoin After 2021 Hack",
      "publisher": "Southern Poverty Law Center",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    }
  ],
  "identity": {
    "verified_name": "Arsyan Ismail",
    "handles": [
      "@arsyan",
      "arsyan.com",
      "about.me/arsyan"
    ],
    "email_addresses": [],
    "locations": [
      "Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia"
    ],
    "verification_status": "high",
    "source_ids": [
      "SRC-001",
      "SRC-002"
    ]
  },
  "credentials_and_claims": [
    {
      "claim": "Sold the AI.com domain to Kris Marszalek (Crypto.com CEO) for approximately US$70 million, reportedly paid entirely in cryptocurrency.",
      "source": "Media interviews and broker disclosures",
      "verified": true,
      "verification_evidence": "Confirmed by Fintech News Malaysia, multiple international outlets, and broker Larry Fischer disclosure.",
      "verification_status": "verified",
      "confidence": "high",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "notes": "Transaction reported as completed in April 2025 and publicized February 2026.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001"
      ]
    },
    {
      "claim": "Purchased AI.com in 1993 for US$100 at age 10 using his mother’s credit card.",
      "source": "Self-reported interviews and early media coverage",
      "verified": false,
      "verification_evidence": "Contradicted by domain industry research, WHOIS timelines, and investigative reporting showing likely acquisition in 2021 for approximately US$11 million.",
      "verification_status": "misleading",
      "confidence": "high",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "notes": "Several outlets later issued editor’s notes or corrections.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "project_history": [
    {
      "name": "BitKingdom",
      "period": "2015–2017",
      "description": "Bitcoin-based investment scheme promising high monthly returns, identified by multiple investigators as an MMM-style Ponzi clone.",
      "funding": "Unknown",
      "outcome": "Collapsed; founder Datuk Mohammad Fadino Khairuman charged in 2020; no restitution to victims.",
      "tvl_or_metrics": "Victim losses alleged to be in the hundreds of millions USD equivalent.",
      "team_members": [
        "Datuk Mohammad Fadino Khairuman",
        "Adimus Putra",
        "Duke Lucas"
      ],
      "controversies": [
        "Allegations that Arsyan Ismail served as technical architect and database administrator.",
        "Arsyan Ismail claimed contractor status under NDA."
      ],
      "sources": [
        "BehindMLM review",
        "Change.org victim petitions"
      ],
      "confidence": "medium",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004",
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "AI.com",
      "period": "Disputed acquisition 2021 – sold April 2025",
      "description": "Premium two-letter domain later sold for a record-setting price.",
      "funding": "Self-funded acquisition; reported ~$11M purchase price (disputed).",
      "outcome": "Sold for US$70M to Crypto.com CEO.",
      "tvl_or_metrics": "US$70,000,000 sale price.",
      "team_members": [
        "Larry Fischer (broker)",
        "Kris Marszalek (buyer)"
      ],
      "controversies": [
        "False or embellished origin story regarding 1993 purchase."
      ],
      "sources": [
        "Fintech News Malaysia",
        "Deeper Insights"
      ],
      "confidence": "high",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001",
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "timeline": [
    {
      "date": "2015",
      "title": "BitKingdom launch",
      "description": "BitKingdom begins operating, promising high monthly Bitcoin returns.",
      "sources": [
        "BehindMLM"
      ],
      "tone": "warning",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Later flagged as Ponzi-style scheme.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2020",
      "title": "Founder charged",
      "description": "Datuk Mohammad Fadino Khairuman charged with cheating related to BitKingdom.",
      "sources": [
        "Malaysian court reporting"
      ],
      "tone": "critical",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Arsyan Ismail not charged.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2021",
      "title": "AI.com acquisition (disputed)",
      "description": "Investigative domain research places AI.com acquisition around September 2021 via SAW.com.",
      "sources": [
        "Deeper Insights"
      ],
      "tone": "neutral",
      "verified": false,
      "notes": "Purchase price estimated; not confirmed by Arsyan Ismail.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "April 2025",
      "title": "AI.com sold",
      "description": "AI.com sold to Crypto.com CEO for US$70 million.",
      "sources": [
        "Fintech News Malaysia"
      ],
      "tone": "positive",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Payment reportedly in cryptocurrency.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "February 2026",
      "title": "Origin story disputed",
      "description": "Media and domain experts publicly dispute the 1993 purchase narrative.",
      "sources": [
        "Deeper Insights"
      ],
      "tone": "critical",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Several outlets amended earlier reporting.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "red_flags": [
    {
      "title": "Fabricated or exaggerated AI.com origin story",
      "description": "Claimed childhood purchase in 1993 contradicted by domain records and industry research.",
      "severity": "high",
      "confidence": "high",
      "supporting_evidence": [
        "WHOIS history",
        "Domain broker analysis",
        "Investigative reporting"
      ],
      "counter_evidence": [
        "No primary documentation produced by subject"
      ],
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "Deeper Insights"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Association with BitKingdom Ponzi scheme",
      "description": "Multiple sources allege technical and operational involvement in a fraudulent investment scheme.",
      "severity": "critical",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "supporting_evidence": [
        "BehindMLM analysis",
        "Victim petitions"
      ],
      "counter_evidence": [
        "Subject claims contractor role only; no charges filed"
      ],
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "BehindMLM",
        "Change.org"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004",
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "behavioral_patterns": [
    {
      "title": "Narrative embellishment",
      "description": "Repeated use of compelling personal stories later shown to be inaccurate or unsupported.",
      "examples": [
        "1993 AI.com purchase claim",
        "Selective disclosure in media interviews"
      ],
      "frequency": "Repeated across major media events",
      "confidence": "high",
      "sources": [
        "Deeper Insights"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "contradictions_and_disputes": [
    {
      "claim_1": "AI.com purchased in 1993 for US$100",
      "claim_2": "AI.com acquired in 2021 for approximately US$11M",
      "source_1": "Self-reported interviews and early media",
      "source_2": "Domain industry investigations",
      "resolution": "2021 acquisition considered more likely based on evidence",
      "confidence": "high",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "evidence_gaps": [
    {
      "question": "Exact purchase price and contractual details of AI.com acquisition",
      "why_uncertain": "No escrow records or invoices publicly released",
      "searched": "Domain industry reporting and investigative articles",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "key_insights": [
    {
      "title": "Legitimate high-value asset sale overshadowed by credibility issues",
      "description": "While the AI.com sale is real and verified, surrounding narratives and past associations significantly elevate reputational and diligence risk.",
      "importance": "critical",
      "evidence": [
        "Verified sale",
        "Disputed origin story",
        "Unresolved BitKingdom allegations"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001",
        "SRC-003",
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "risk_assessment": {
    "overall_score": 72,
    "score_reasoning": "Verified major financial success offset by high-severity credibility issues and unresolved associations with alleged fraud.",
    "criminal_risk": "medium",
    "financial_risk": "medium",
    "reputational_risk": "high",
    "verification_risk": "significant portions unverifiable or disputed",
    "source_ids": [
      "SRC-001",
      "SRC-003",
      "SRC-004"
    ]
  },
  "confidence_notes": {
    "data_completeness": "Approximately 70% of claims independently verified",
    "source_verification": "Mix of reputable investigative outlets and self-reported sources",
    "identity_confidence": "High",
    "timeline_confidence": "Medium",
    "conflicting_findings": "AI.com acquisition date and cost; extent of BitKingdom involvement",
    "limitations": "Lack of primary legal and transactional documents"
  }
}