← Siavash Kayvanpourreviewed 2026-10-16 · 28 claims checked
Fact-check findings
What an automated fact-checker found when it re-read Siavash Kayvanpour against the sources the page cites. Only the most recent review is shown.
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These findings are produced by an automated reviewer, and its results vary between runs: the same page, checked three times on the same day, came back with 15%, 20% and 34% of its claims disputed, mostly because each run extracted a different number of claims. Treat what follows as leads, not rulings.
“Disputed” means the reviewer could not reconcile the claim with the evidence it cited. It does not mean the claim is false. “Unverifiable” means no reachable source settled it either way.
Nothing here changes the page on its own. A proposed correction is applied only after a human moderator approves it; until then the page reads as it did when reviewed.
disputed
5 claimsThe reviewer could not reconcile the claim with the evidence it cited. This is a lead, not a ruling that the claim is false.
- #16[disputed][awaiting moderator]in section: Illegal Gambling Network
“Pooyan Mokhtari was arrested in Dubai in April 2026 and accused by UAE authorities of financing Iranian terrorist organizations before being expelled; he subsequently relocated to Hong Kong.”
reviewerPooyan Mokhtari was arrested in Dubai in April 2026, accused of financing Iranian terrorist organizations, then expelled and relocated to Hong KongThe underlying event is real but is independently confirmed only by the Times of Israel article, not by the GamblingNews source the page cites for this section; the arrest date is also off by about a month (March, not April).Proposed correction (not yet applied)Pooyan Mokhtari was arrested in Dubai in late March 2026 and accused by UAE authorities of financing Iranian terrorist organizations before being expelled; he subsequently relocated to Hong Kong. - #18[disputed][awaiting moderator]in section: Dubai Regulatory Actions Against Shelbit
“Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) fined Shelbit General Trading L.L.C. in January 2025 for operating virtual asset services in Dubai without a valid regulatory license, failing to conduct mandatory Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks, and marketing its services without authorization.”
reviewerVARA fined Shelbit General Trading L.L.C. in January 2025 for operating without a license, failing KYC, and unauthorized marketingVARA's own published enforcement notice attributes the formal fines and the specific unlicensed/KYC/marketing violations to the notice dated July 24, 2026, not January 2025, which it describes only as an earlier cease-and-desist action. The page (and one of its own non-cited-here secondary sources, The Block) reverses this. Given the primary regulator's own notice is the highest-tier source, the page's dating should be treated as disputed, though reporting is not fully consistent on this point.Proposed correction (not yet applied)Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) issued a cease-and-desist notice to Shelbit General Trading L.L.C. on January 2, 2025, and later fined the company, in a notice dated July 24, 2026, for operating virtual asset services in Dubai without a valid regulatory license, failing to conduct mandatory Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks, and marketing its services without authorization. - #26[disputed][awaiting moderator]in the timeline
“Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) fines Shelbit General Trading L.L.C. for operating without a license, failing KYC requirements, and unauthorized marketing.”
reviewer(Timeline) VARA fines Shelbit General Trading L.L.C. in 2025 for operating without a license, failing KYC requirements, and unauthorized marketingSame underlying date-attribution error as the corresponding section finding.Proposed correction (not yet applied)Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) issues a cease-and-desist notice to Shelbit General Trading L.L.C.; VARA's formal notice of fines citing unlicensed operation, KYC failures, and unauthorized marketing followed on July 24, 2026. - #27[disputed][awaiting moderator]in the timeline
“Pooyan Mokhtari arrested in Dubai and accused by UAE authorities of financing Iranian terrorist organizations; subsequently expelled from the UAE and relocates to Hong Kong.”
reviewer(Timeline) Pooyan Mokhtari arrested in Dubai in April 2026The proposed_correction here targets the date field; quoted_text for this entry should be matched against timeline[3].date value '2026-04' (field being corrected), while the event text quoted above identifies which timeline row is in error.Proposed correction (not yet applied)2026-03 - #28[disputed][awaiting moderator]in the timeline
“https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/complex-iranian-gambling-network-allegedly-used-to-skip-sanctions/”
reviewer(Timeline) Pooyan Mokhtari arrest sourced to GamblingNewsCitation mismatch: the cited GamblingNews URL does not support this timeline entry's content; Times of Israel does and is already present in the page's sources_used list.Proposed correction (not yet applied)https://www.timesofisrael.com/illicit-iranian-gambling-network-helped-pull-off-a-4-billion-sanctions-dodge/
unverifiable
2 claimsNo source the reviewer could reach confirms or contradicts the claim.
- #4[unverifiable][awaiting moderator]in section: Identity and Corporate Structure
“The primary operating entity is SHPS Shelbit, incorporated in the Republic of Georgia and holding a General Service licence issued within the Tbilisi Free Industrial Zone for crypto brokerage and virtual asset service provider (VASP) activities.”
reviewerSHPS Shelbit holds a General Service licence issued within the Tbilisi Free Industrial Zone for crypto brokerage and VASP activitiesNeither cited source for this section supports this specific licensing detail, and a web search found no official record confirming SHPS Shelbit holds a Tbilisi Free Zone VASP licence. Could not confirm or disprove. - #23[unverifiable][awaiting moderator]in section: Binance Flows and Broader Exchange Exposure
“The broader Shelbit network was also found to have transacted with other Iranian exchanges including Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin, Ramzinex, and Zedcex/Zedxion (the latter two were sanctioned in January 2026).”
reviewerShelbit network transacted with Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin, Ramzinex, and Zedcex/Zedxion, the latter two sanctioned in January 2026The core Nobitex/Wallex/Bitpin/Ramzinex sanctions detail traces to a June 2026 OFAC action per independent search; the specific claim that Zedcex/Zedxion were sanctioned separately in January 2026 could not be independently confirmed or refuted.
partially supported
3 claimsThe cited evidence supports part of the claim but not all of it.
- #7[partially supported][awaiting moderator]in section: Identity and Corporate Structure
“The public-facing exchange, informally known as Shelbit, operated without a license from an office above a budget hotel in Dubai's Deira district and maintained no public website.”
reviewerThe Shelbit exchange operated from an office above a budget hotel in Dubai's Deira district with no public websiteThe budget-hotel office and absence of a website are confirmed; the specific neighborhood (Deira) is not confirmed by the cited source. - #19[partially supported][awaiting moderator]in section: Dubai Regulatory Actions Against Shelbit
“Approximately $540 million in cryptocurrency flowed from Shelbit-linked wallets to Binance after the VARA fine was imposed.”
reviewerApproximately $540 million flowed from Shelbit-linked wallets to Binance after the VARA fine was imposedThe $540 million figure is sourced, but which VARA action counts as 'the fine' is itself disputed (see the January 2025/July 2026 finding above), so the 'after the fine' framing inherits that uncertainty. Binance also disputes this specific figure, which the page does not mention. - #20[partially supported][awaiting moderator]in section: Dubai Regulatory Actions Against Shelbit
“On July 24, 2026, following inquiries from Reuters in connection with its investigation, VARA issued an immediate cease-and-desist order against Shelbit, citing severe violations of money laundering and terrorism financing laws that VARA determined threatened the integrity of the UAE financial system.”
reviewerOn July 24, 2026, VARA issued an immediate cease-and-desist order following Reuters inquiries, citing money laundering and terrorism financing violationsBroadly accurate but understates that this July 24 notice is VARA's formal Notice of Fines (not merely a cease-and-desist reacting to Reuters), and the 'money laundering and terrorism financing violations' framing is a characterization of a statutory breach rather than a specific laundering/financing finding.
confirmed
18 claimsThe cited evidence supports the claim as written.
- #1[confirmed][no action needed]in section: OFAC Designation and Sanctions Basis
“OFAC's designation cites Kayvanpour for materially assisting the IRGC and Nobitex, Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, both of which are U.S.-designated entities.”
reviewerOFAC's designation cites Kayvanpour for materially assisting the IRGC and NobitexDirectly supported by the Treasury press release text. - #2[confirmed][no action needed]in section: OFAC Designation and Sanctions Basis
“OFAC simultaneously sanctioned a network of companies owned or controlled by Kayvanpour, including Georgia-based SHPS Shelbit, Poland-based Shelbit Technologies Ltd, UAE-based Crypto Home DMCC, and UAE-based NFT Home DMCC.”
reviewerOFAC simultaneously sanctioned SHPS Shelbit, Shelbit Technologies Ltd, Crypto Home DMCC and NFT Home DMCC as entities owned/controlled by KayvanpourMatches the primary source exactly. - #3[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Identity and Corporate Structure
“Kayvanpour was born in Iran and has obtained additional citizenship from Dominica and Afghanistan. At the time of his designation he was resident in the United Arab Emirates.”
reviewerKayvanpour was born in Iran, holds Dominica and Afghanistan citizenship, and resided in the UAE at designationDirectly confirmed. - #5[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Identity and Corporate Structure
“A second entity, Shelbit Technologies Ltd (registered as Shelbit Technologies Ltd Sp. z o.o.), was incorporated in Warsaw, Poland on August 24, 2023, and is owned by Kayvanpour.”
reviewerShelbit Technologies Ltd Sp. z o.o. was incorporated in Warsaw, Poland on August 24, 2023, owned by KayvanpourDate and ownership corroborated across two sources. - #6[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Identity and Corporate Structure
“In the UAE, Kayvanpour serves as sole manager of Crypto Home DMCC and NFT Home DMCC, both registered in Dubai.”
reviewerKayvanpour is sole manager of Crypto Home DMCC and NFT Home DMCC, both Dubai-registeredVerbatim match to primary source. - #8[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Financial Flows to IRGC and Nobitex
“According to OFAC's designation, digital currency addresses belonging to or controlled by the IRGC sent the equivalent of over $1 million to Shelbit Exchange addresses.”
reviewerIRGC-linked addresses sent over $1 million to Shelbit Exchange addressesConfirmed verbatim. - #9[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Financial Flows to IRGC and Nobitex
“More than $2 million also flowed in the reverse direction, from Shelbit Exchange addresses to IRGC-linked addresses.”
reviewerMore than $2 million flowed from Shelbit Exchange addresses to IRGC-linked addressesConfirmed. - #10[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Financial Flows to IRGC and Nobitex
“Separately, wallets controlled by Kayvanpour personally sent over $2 million to Nobitex, Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, which the United States sanctioned in June 2026.”
reviewerWallets controlled by Kayvanpour personally sent over $2 million to NobitexConfirmed on both the flow amount and the June 2026 Nobitex sanctions date. - #11[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Financial Flows to IRGC and Nobitex
“The broader Reuters investigation published on July 31, 2026 identified Shelbit as processing at least $4 billion in digital assets since May 2024, with funds sourced from or delivered to Iran's central bank, IRGC-linked wallets identified by Israeli authorities, Nobitex, and an Iranian Bitcoin-mining operation.”
reviewerReuters investigation (July 31, 2026) found Shelbit processed at least $4 billion since May 2024, tied to Iran's central bank, IRGC wallets, Nobitex and a Bitcoin-mining operationFigure and date consistently corroborated across multiple outlets citing the same Reuters investigation. - #12[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Illegal Gambling Network
“The network reportedly used access to Iran's domestic payment infrastructure — connected to central bank-controlled rails — to funnel proceeds through Shelbit for conversion into cryptocurrency and onward transfer to global exchanges.”
reviewerThe gambling network used access to Iran's central bank-controlled payment rails to funnel proceeds through ShelbitSupported by one of the four cited sources (Crypto Briefing); a second cited source (GamblingNews) uses softer language but does not contradict it. - #13[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Illegal Gambling Network
“Shelbit's largest alleged client was a conglomerate of over 2,000 Farsi-language online gambling websites, an activity that is illegal under Iranian law.”
reviewerOver 2,000 Farsi-language gambling websites were Shelbit's largest alleged client base, laundering tens of millions of dollarsConfirmed, though framed as an allegation in the source as well. - #14[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Illegal Gambling Network
“Both influencers were convicted in an Iranian court in 2023 on illegal gambling charges, as was Kayvanpour himself.”
reviewerBoth influencers (Sobhani, Mokhtari) and Kayvanpour were convicted in an Iranian court in 2023 on illegal gambling chargesCorroborated by two independent sources. - #15[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Illegal Gambling Network
“Sobhani and Mokhtari have denied involvement in money laundering, sanctions evasion, or handling government funds, describing their roles as limited to paid social media advertising.”
reviewerSobhani and Mokhtari denied involvement in money laundering, sanctions evasion, or handling government fundsBroadly confirmed, though Mokhtari's denial as reported is narrower (focused on terrorism-financing allegations) than a blanket denial of money-laundering/sanctions-evasion involvement. - #17[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Iranian Criminal Conviction (2023)
“The specific sentence handed down to Kayvanpour has been reported as approximately three months, although details of the conviction remain based on secondary reporting.”
reviewerKayvanpour's sentence from the 2023 conviction was approximately three monthsConfirmed, and the page's own hedge ('based on secondary reporting') is appropriate since this is sourced from a single news report rather than a court record. - #21[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Dubai Regulatory Actions Against Shelbit
“Binance stated that Shelbit itself never held a direct account with Binance and that the company conducted internal investigations, freezing and reporting any accounts found to be connected to the network.”
reviewerBinance stated Shelbit never held a direct account with Binance and that Binance froze/reported connected accountsConfirmed. - #22[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Binance Flows and Broader Exchange Exposure
“Blockchain analysis conducted as part of the Reuters investigation published July 31, 2026 traced approximately $676 million moving from Shelbit-linked wallets to Binance during the period under review.”
reviewerReuters-linked blockchain analysis traced approximately $676 million from Shelbit-linked wallets to BinanceConfirmed. - #24[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Binance Flows and Broader Exchange Exposure
“Separately, Tether froze a total of approximately $475 million in USDT linked to Iran's central bank in two tranches: approximately $344 million frozen in April 2026 and $131 million frozen in July 2026 following OFAC's addition of four wallet addresses to its sanctions list.”
reviewerTether froze a total of approximately $475 million in USDT linked to Iran's central bank in two tranches: $344 million in April 2026 and $131 million in July 2026Both tranche figures are corroborated by independent sources; the underlying OFAC action date for the second tranche may have occurred July 14, with the cited article published July 16, a minor and immaterial lag. - #25[confirmed][no action needed]in section: Sanctions Compliance Risk
“Kayvanpour's personal designation under E.O. 13224 means that any U.S. person who transacts with him, his controlled wallets, or any of his designated entities — SHPS Shelbit (Georgia), Shelbit Technologies Ltd (Poland), Crypto Home DMCC (UAE), or NFT Home DMCC (UAE) — is in violation of U.S. sanctions law.”
reviewerKayvanpour's designation makes transactions with him or his four named entities a U.S. sanctions violation; non-U.S. persons face secondary sanctions riskStandard, accurate description of SDN-listing legal effect; not a claim requiring a specialized citation beyond the designation itself.
How this fits together. The reviewer reads the published page and its cited sources and records one finding per claim. A human moderator decides whether each proposed correction is applied; those decisions, and the score changes they cause, appear in the audit log. Earlier review runs are not shown here; only the latest reflects the page as it stands.