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Dadvan Ismat Yousuf Yousuf (born April 9, 2000) is an Iraqi businessman who made headlines in Switzerland claiming to be the youngest self-made billionaire through bitcoin investments.

As of 2023, Yousuf is currently under criminal investigations for money laundering and fraud activities by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Canton of Bern.

Early life and education

Yousuf was born in Zakho, Iraqi Kurdistan on April 9, 2000. His father was part of the Peshmerga and fled the country to Switzerland before Yousuf was born. Three years later his mother left the country, together with her three sons. They arrived in Neuenburg, Switzerland, in 2003 where his father had relocated. In 2004, the family was granted refugee and moved to Ipsach. Yousuf has five younger siblings who were born in Switzerland.

In 2017, Yousuf started an apprenticeship at the Eidgenössische Hochschulinstitut für Berufsbildung in Zollikofen. Around the same time, Yousuf claims to have developed a software for automated trades in cryptocurrencies, based on an algorithm analysing data and predicting fluctuations in the future. According to Yousuf, the algorithm evaluates data stemming from technical analysis, social media, macroeconomics and public statements about cryptocurrencies.

Career

At the age of 11, Yousuf sold some of his toys to acquire funds to invest in Bitcoin. With this initial investment, he purchased 10 Bitcoins at a price of €15 each and continued to trade in the cryptocurrency. In 2012, he acquired 1000 Bitcoins at a rate of €11,126 each. In 2016, Yousuf invested in Ethereum, buying 16,000 units at a total cost of €134,000.

Yousuf founded the Dohrnii Foundation in Zug, which oversees the development of his cryptocurrency software. He also introduced his own cryptocurrency Dohrnii (DHN) in March 2021, as well as another token DHND in 2023. Yousuf became a multi-millionaire through his cryptocurrency trades, and is considered the youngest Swiss self-made millionaire.

In late 2021, Yousuf took over part of the Swiss startup Crowdlitoken and became their CEO subject to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. The startup was founded to develop solutions to allow people to invest in real estate through digital shares in the form of tokens.

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has concluded its investigation involving the Dohrnii Foundation and its founder in June 2023. The focus of the investigation was the involvement of both entities in regulated activities within the cryptocurrency sector without obtaining the necessary authorization from FINMA. Initiated in May 2022, the enforcement procedure involved the deployment of a FINMA investigator to establish factual details.

In February 2023, Yousuf stepped down from his roles within the Dohrnii Foundation and the cryptocurrency education platform. Although he resigned from active positions, he retained his involvement as a representative.

Controversy

In February 2022, several critical press articles were released scrutinizing Yousuf's professional activities and credentials. Some reports alleged embellishments in his resume, though Yousuf has partially disputed these claims. Regarding his involvement in cryptocurrency, Yousuf's engagements have drawn the attention of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). The company has stated that guidelines were followed for an Initial Coin Offering, but as of March 2022, this has not been independently verified. Some experts, including one cited by the Swiss newspaper Blick, suggest that compliance might be possible under certain conditions. Concurrently, FINMA is investigating Yousuf's foundation on money laundering charges.

In early 2023, information emerged about potential financial difficulties faced by Yousuf, in connection with ongoing investigations by FINMA. Reports indicate the presence of unpaid debts, including hotel invoices amounting to 80,000 Swiss Francs (approximately $85,000) related to stays at the Dolder Grand in Zürich, Switzerland. There are also reported outstanding collections from various service providers, such as a Rolls-Royce dealership, the City Judge Office, and taxi companies. Yousuf has attributed these payment difficulties to his accounts being blocked by FINMA.

References

1. Rossier (Fotos), Kilian Marti (Text) und Philippe (2022-01-17). "Dadvan Yousuf ist der jüngste Selfmade-Milliardär im Land". Blick (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-02-23.
2. "Selfmade-Milliardär Dadvan Yousuf soll Fake-Uhren tragen". Blick (in Swiss High German). 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
3. "Dadvan Yousuf: Ermittlungen wegen Betrugs gegen Bitcoin-Investor". Handelszeitung (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-02-23.
4. "Unter Geldwäscherei-Verdacht - Staatsanwaltschaft eröffnet Verfahren gegen «Krypto-King» Yousuf". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
5. Money Maker: Folge 3: Dadvan Yousuf - Kryptomillionär mit 17 (S01/E03) | ARD Mediathek (in German), retrieved 2023-02-23
6. ^ "Crypto-succès suisse – A 21 ans, l'ancien réfugié est devenu millionnaire grâce au Bitcoin". 24 heures (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-29.
7. ^ "Vom Flüchtling zum Millionär – Er tauschte seine Spielsachen gegen Bitcoins". Der Bund (in German). Retrieved 2021-04-29.
8. ^ "Svizzera, la favola di Dadvan, il giovane rifugiato curdo diventato milionario grazie ai Pokémon venduti a cambio di Bitcoin". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
9. ^ Tanner (Bilder), Martin Beglinger (Text), Simon. "Kryptowährungen: Vom Flüchtlingskind zum Bitcoin-Millionär". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2021-07-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
10. "Vom Flüchtling zum Bitcoin-Millionär". TeleZüri (in Swiss High German). 2021-08-23. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
11. ^ "Der junge Kryptomillionär Dadvan Yousuf im Interview". Handelszeitung (in German). Retrieved 2021-08-04.
12. "Cum a ajuns un refugiat irakian milionar în Elveția la 21 de ani. Era copil când și-a vândut figurinele Pokémon ca să-și cumpere Bitcoin". Libertatea (in Romanian). 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
13. Ritter, Pascal (2021-11-08). "Mit Bitcoin aus der Armut: "Ich bin eine wandelnde Provokation" – der jüngste Schweizer Selfmade-Millionär im Interview". Luzerner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 2021-11-08.
14. Michael Schäfer, Werner Grundlehner: Der Krypto-Zauberlehrling zündet die nächste Stufe, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 12. November 2021.
15. Grundlehner, Michael Schäfer, Werner. "Krypto-Millionär Yousuf will Immobilienanlagen revolutionieren". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-15.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
16. FINMA, Eidgenössische Finanzmarktaufsicht. "Dohrnii Stiftung". Eidgenössische Finanzmarktaufsicht FINMA. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
17. "Finma Sends Supervisor to Crypto Foundation". finews.com. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
18. "Dadvan Yousuf (21) – Finma untersucht Stiftung von "Krypto-Zauberlehrling"". 20 Minuten (in German). 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
19. ^ Martin Beglinger: „Der Krypto-Zauberlehrling wird von der Finma durchleuchtet“, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 14. Februar 2022
20. "Krypto-"King" Dadvan Yousuf - der Krypto-"Milliardär" und seine fragwürdigen Transaktionen". 17 February 2022.
21. Marti, Kilian (2022-03-22). "Dadvan Yousuf: Der Krypto-"Milliardär" verteidigt sich gegen die Vorwürfe". Blick (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2022-03-23.
22. "Junger Bitcoin-Investor – Geht beim Berner Kryptomillionär alles mit rechten Dingen zu?". Der Bund (in German). Retrieved 2022-03-10.
23. "Kryptomilliardär Dadvan Yousuf: Kritik wird laut". Handelszeitung (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2022-03-10.
24. AG, DV Bern. "Dohrnii Stiftung". Commercial register of canton Zug. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
25. "Berner Kryptomillionär – Staatsanwaltschaft bestätigt Verfahren gegen Dadvan Yousuf". Berner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-02-23.
26. Hässig, Lukas (2023-02-07). "Krypto-Yousuf schuldet Dolder Grand 80'000 Franken". Inside Paradeplatz (in German). Retrieved 2023-02-23.
27. "Ermittlungen gegen Krypto-Investor Dadvan Yousuf". Blick (in Swiss High German). 2023-01-18. Retrieved 2023-02-23.

• Iraqi businesspeople
• People associated with Bitcoin
• 2000 births
• Living people