History of Alex Mashinsky in Timeline

Alex Mashinsky is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, business executive, and fraudster. He co-founded and formerly served as the CEO of Celsius Network, a cryptocurrency lending platform that declared bankruptcy. His involvement in the company's downfall and alleged fraudulent activities have significantly impacted the cryptocurrency market.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

October 1965: Alexander Mashinsky Born

In October 1965, Alexander Mashinsky was born in the Ukrainian SSR. He is now known as an Israeli-American entrepreneur, business executive, and fraudster. This date marks the beginning of his life and eventual career in the tech and cryptocurrency industries.

1965: Alexander Mashinsky Born

In 1965, Alexander Mashinsky was born in the Soviet Union into a Jewish family. This event marks the beginning of his life, which would later involve moving to Israel and then the United States.

1984: Mashinsky Enlists in Israeli Army

In 1984, Alex Mashinsky began his service in the Israeli Army, where he trained as a pilot and later served in the Golani Brigade.

1987: Mashinsky Ends Service in Israeli Army

In 1987, Alex Mashinsky concluded his service in the Israeli Army, where he had trained as a pilot and served in the Golani Brigade.

1988: Mashinsky Moves to the United States

In 1988, Alex Mashinsky relocated to the United States, marking a significant transition in his life and career aspirations.

1989: Business Slows After Tiananmen Square Protests

After the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Alex Mashinsky's business trading contracts for chemicals slowed down due to the decline in sodium cyanide exports from China. Following this downturn, he transitioned to working at A+ Systems.

1993: Mashinsky Realizes Potential for Commodity Market

By 1993, Alex Mashinsky recognized the potential for a commodity market for international telephone capacity, leading to his later ventures in the telecommunications industry.

1996: Mashinsky Founds Arbinet

In 1996, Alex Mashinsky founded Arbinet, a marketplace for VoIP telephone service. The platform was one of the first to enable telecommunication companies to trade minutes.

November 1997: Arbinet Offers Data Connectivity Service

In November 1997, Arbinet, founded by Alex Mashinsky, began offering a service for data connectivity, allowing over 400 T1 lines connected to its New York hub to exchange unused bandwidth.

2004: Mashinsky Founds GroundLink

In 2004, Alex Mashinsky founded GroundLink, a service that allowed users to book on-demand limousines and car services using a computer or smartphone.

2005: Mashinsky Sells Arbinet Stake and Starts GroundLink

In 2005, Alex Mashinsky sold his stake in Arbinet and used some of the profits to found GroundLink, a company that allowed people to book limousine and car services via smartphone or computer.

2010: Q-Wireless Receives Subway Contract

By 2010, Alex Mashinsky's company, Q-Wireless, which is part of Transit Wireless, was contracted to install wireless cellphone and free Wi-Fi internet service at 277 underground subway stations in New York City.

2010: GroundLink Forms Joint Venture and Offers Free Wi-Fi

In 2010, Alex Mashinsky organized a joint venture between GroundLink and several limousine and car service companies. These companies, along with LimoRes Car & Limo Service, also founded by Mashinsky, installed free Wi-Fi service funded by advertising sales and partnered with Gogo Inflight Internet to offer in-flight WiFi passes.

April 2014: Mashinsky Joins Novatel Board

In April 2014, Alex Mashinsky was appointed to the board of directors of Novatel, a company known for providing Wi-Fi hotspot products. This marked his entry into a leadership role within the company.

2014: Mashinsky Becomes Board Member of Novatel

In 2014, Alex Mashinsky was appointed to the board of directors of Novatel, a company specializing in Wi-Fi hotspot products. This marked a significant step in his career, expanding his involvement in the technology sector.

October 2015: Mashinsky Departs Novatel

In October 2015, Alex Mashinsky left his position as CEO of Novatel after serving for approximately a year and a half. He later stated that his termination was due to his refusal to relocate.

2015: Mashinsky Leaves Novatel

In 2015, Alex Mashinsky stepped down from his position as CEO of Novatel after serving for a year and a half. This departure was later attributed to his refusal to relocate to the company's headquarters.

September 2016: Mashinsky Hired as Global CEO of RTX

In September 2016, Alex Mashinsky was hired as the Global CEO of RTX, a London-based financial technology firm in the telecom industry.

2017: Mashinsky Founds Celsius Network

In 2017, Alex Mashinsky founded Celsius Network, a platform for borrowing and lending digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies, encouraging customers to "unbank" themselves.

2018: Mashinsky Leaves RTX After Dispute

According to his 2018 deposition, Alex Mashinsky left RTX after a dispute with management, following six months in the role as Global CEO.

2018: Mashinsky States Reason for Novatel Termination

In a 2018 deposition, Alex Mashinsky said that he was terminated from his post as CEO of Novatel because he refused to move from New York to Novatel's San Diego headquarters.

January 2022: Mashinsky Takes Control of Celsius Trading Strategy

In January 2022, Alex Mashinsky assumed control over Celsius Network's trading strategy, reportedly directing large individual cryptocurrency trades and overruling executives.

May 2022: Mashinsky Withdraws $10 Million from Celsius

In May 2022, Alex Mashinsky withdrew $10 million from Celsius Network. A spokesperson stated that the funds were intended for tax payments and estate planning.

July 13, 2022: Celsius Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

On July 13, 2022, Celsius Network filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, one month after pausing customer withdrawals. Alex Mashinsky admitted that "the Company made what, in hindsight, proved to be certain poor asset deployment decisions."

September 27, 2022: Mashinsky Resigns as Celsius CEO

On September 27, 2022, Alex Mashinsky resigned from his position as CEO of Celsius Network. He was replaced by Chris Ferraro as interim CEO. The Unsecured Creditors Committee viewed this executive change as "a positive step".

October 2022: Report on Mashinsky's Withdrawals from Celsius

In October 2022, a report revealed that Alex Mashinsky's $10 million withdrawals from Celsius Network in May 2022 occurred as customers were withdrawing assets in large quantities, and the company was nearing bankruptcy. It was also estimated that Mashinsky sold $44 million worth of CEL tokens.

2022: WSJ Describes Mashinsky as Serial Entrepreneur

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal characterized Alex Mashinsky as a "brash, confident serial entrepreneur with a constant stream of big ideas", highlighting his active and ambitious approach to business ventures.

January 5, 2023: Attorney General Files Civil Lawsuit

On January 5, 2023, the Attorney General of New York filed a civil lawsuit against Alex Mashinsky, accusing him of violating the state's Martin Act by committing securities fraud.

January 2023: New York Attorney General Files Civil Lawsuit

In January 2023, the Attorney General of New York initiated a civil lawsuit against Alex Mashinsky, accusing him of securities fraud during his tenure as CEO of Celsius Network.

January 31, 2023: Court Examiner Files Report on Celsius

On January 31, 2023, a court-appointed examiner, Shoba Pillay, filed a report on Celsius with the bankruptcy court. The report described "blatant fraud" by Alex Mashinsky during his time as CEO and was critical of the "Ask Mashinsky Anything" livestreams.

July 13, 2023: SEC Charges and Federal Arrest

On July 13, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Alex Mashinsky and Celsius Network with violating federal security laws. On the same day, federal authorities arrested and indicted him in the Southern District of New York on charges of fraud and market manipulation.

December 3, 2024: Mashinsky Pleads Guilty to Fraud

On December 3, 2024, Alex Mashinsky pleaded guilty to one count of commodities fraud and one count of securities fraud, and agreed to forfeit $48 million. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

April 8, 2025: Original Sentencing Date for Mashinsky

April 8, 2025, was the initially scheduled sentencing date for Alex Mashinsky after he pleaded guilty to fraud charges. However, the sentencing was later delayed.