Moshe Hogeg

Hogeg was born in Beersheba on May 15, 1981, in the Southern District of Israel, and grew up in the nearby local council of Meitar.{{Cite news|last=Amit|first=Hagai|date=March 11, 2016|title=An Israeli Startup Guru Who Doesn't Waste Time on Modesty|work=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-israeli-startup-guru-who-doesnt-waste-time-on-modesty-1.5415969|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211061432/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-israeli-startup-guru-who-doesnt-waste-time-on-modesty-1.5415969|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Ron|first=Liat|date=October 14, 2014|title=פורטפוליו משה חוגג|language=he|work=Globes|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000978537|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605123053/https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000978537|url-status=live}} He identifies as an Arab Jew, his father was born in Tunisia and his mother in Morocco.{{Cite news|last1=Halbfinger|first1=David M.|last2=Rasgon|first2=Adam|date=December 7, 2020|title=Israeli Soccer Team, Infamous for Anti-Arab Fans, Has New Co-Owner: a Sheikh|work=The New York Times|location=Jerusalem|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/world/middleeast/israel-soccer-uae-beitar-jerusalem.html|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=May 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513012419/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/world/middleeast/israel-soccer-uae-beitar-jerusalem.html|url-status=live}}

Hogeg was arrested in November 2021 over alleged sexual offenses and cryptocurrency-related fraud.{{Cite news |last=Breiner |first=Josh |title=Israel arrests soccer club owner, suspected of sex offenses, cryptocurrency fraud |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-11-18/ty-article/.premium/israel-arrests-soccer-club-owner-suspected-of-sex-offenses-and-cryptocurrency-fraud/0000017f-e154-d7b2-a77f-e357871c0000 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221002001208/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-11-18/ty-article/.premium/israel-arrests-soccer-club-owner-suspected-of-sex-offenses-and-cryptocurrency-fraud/0000017f-e154-d7b2-a77f-e357871c0000 |archive-date=2022-10-02 |access-date=2025-04-07 |work=Haaretz.com |language=en}} He was subsequently released on a $22 million bail bond to house arrest.{{cite web | last=Magid | first=Jacob | title=Hogeg freed to house arrest on $22 million bail in probe of sex crimes, crypto fraud | publisher=The Times of Israel | date=2021-12-14 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hogeg-freed-to-house-arrest-on-22-million-bail-in-probe-of-sex-crimes-crypto-fraud/ | access-date=2021-12-23}} Following the arrest, Moshe's Ferrari was repossessed by the state of Israel and soon after publicly auctioned.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-09 |title=הפרארי ממכרז החילוט של המשטרה - יד שלישית ממשה חוגג {{!}} כלכליסט |url=https://www.calcalist.co.il/local_news/car/article/byahdckc5 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=calcalist |language=he}}{{cite web |title=Court lifts gag on Moshe Hogeg sex charges, including underage prostitution offenses |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/court-lifts-gag-on-moshe-hogeg-sex-charges-including-underage-prostitution-offenses/ |website=The Times of Israel}}{{cite web |title=Hogeg freed to house arrest on $22 million bail in probe of sex crimes, crypto fraud |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hogeg-freed-to-house-arrest-on-22-million-bail-in-probe-of-sex-crimes-crypto-fraud/ |website=The Times of Israel}}

In July 2022, Hogeg was re-arrested by the Israeli police for failing to fulfill his court ordered bail bond requirement. {{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/moshe-hogeg-suspected-of-massive-fraud-rearrested-for-not-paying-bail/ | title=Moshe Hogeg, suspected of massive fraud, rearrested for not paying bail | website=The Times of Israel }}

In August 2023, the Israeli National Fraud Investigations Unit (NAU) recommended to indict Hogeg for defrauding investors of $290m.https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/wzn84hkpk

Also in August 2023, Israeli police announced the closure of the sexual offense case against Hogeg, stating that the investigation did not yield sufficient evidence to justify an indictment.{{Cite web |last=אלקלעי |first=אורלי |title=המשטרה ממליצה להעמיד לדין את משה חוגג |url=https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan-news/local/499322/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=כאן {{!}} תאגיד השידור הישראלי |language=he}}

In 2010, Hogeg founded Mobli, which reportedly attracted numerous celebrity investors including Carlos Slim, Serena Williams, and Leonardo DiCaprio.{{cite web | last=Spiro | first=Amy | title=Alleged crypto scams, sex offenses, unpaid bills: The claims against Moshe Hogeg | publisher=The Times of Israel | date=2021-11-21 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/alleged-dirty-dealings-and-sex-offenses-moshe-hogegs-long-history-of-deceit/ | access-date=2021-12-23}} One investor was Kazakh businessman Kenges Rakishev; the two later founded a venture capital firm that became known as Singulariteam, which was one of the most active firms in Israel for a time. In April 2014, he co-founded Yo app, the app was valued at between $5 and $10 million in July 2014.{{Cite web |last=Shontell |first=Alyson |title=An App That Just Says 'Yo' Has Raised $1.5 Million At A $5–10 Million Valuation |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/yo-raises-15-million-at-a-5-10-million-valuation-2014-7 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

Hogeg became active in cryptocurrency, donating $1.9 million to Tel Aviv University for blockchain research and founding the Alignment Blockchain Hub. In 2017 and 2018, he led three initial coin offerings (ICOs) for his companies Sirin Labs, Stx Technologies Limited, and Leadcoin, raising over $250 million combined. In June 2018, Hogeg purchased an acre of land in Kfar Shmaryahu, a suburb of Tel Aviv, for 70 million shekels (US$19.3 million).{{Cite news|last=Darel|first=Yael|date=June 20, 2018|title=Tech Entrepreneur Makes Israel's First Real Estate Purchase With Bitcoin|work=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/entrepreneur-makes-israel-s-first-real-estate-purchase-with-bitcoin-1.6197099|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910044915/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/entrepreneur-makes-israel-s-first-real-estate-purchase-with-bitcoin-1.6197099|url-status=live}} Hogeg paid 15 percent of the purchase price in Bitcoin, believed to be the first real estate transaction in Israel conducted with the cryptocurrency.

Hogeg has invested as well in several ventures including, Moonactive,{{Cite web |last=Hazani |first=Golan |date=2020-08-09 |title=Tech entrepreneur Moshe Hogeg pivots to the energy sector |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844191,00.html |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}}{{Cite news |title='Coin Master': How the Addictive, Controversial Israeli Game Raked in a Fortune |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/tech-news/2021-10-13/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/coin-master-moon-active-addictive-controversial-israeli-game-raked-in-a-fortune/0000017f-ef70-da6f-a77f-ff7e6c330000 |access-date=2022-09-13}} StoreDot{{Cite news |title=This Israeli Firm Promised to Reinvent the Battery. The World Is Still Waiting |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/tech-news/2022-03-13/ty-article/.premium/this-israeli-firm-promised-to-reinvent-the-battery-were-still-waiting/00000180-5bc3-d615-a9bf-dfd390620000 |access-date=2022-09-13}}{{Cite web |last=Dobrovitsky |first=Lital |date=2021-03-30 |title=Moshe Hogeg sues Samsung Ventures over nixed StoreDot shares deal |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3902270,00.html |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}} and Delek Group.

Throughout his business career, Hogeg has faced lawsuits over his ventures from investors and former employees, including former members of Singulariteam.{{cite web | last=Weinglass | first=Simona | title=3 of Israel's most-hyped initial coin offerings were scams, ex-employees allege | publisher=The Times of Israel | date=2021-05-31 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-of-israels-most-hyped-initial-coin-offerings-were-scams-ex-employees-allege/ | access-date=2021-12-23}} Most were settled out of court with plaintiffs signing nondisclosure agreements.

In September 2022, Hogeg launched the Tomi cryptocurrency project. In an interview with a local newspaper in Marrakesh, Hogeg identified himself as the CEO of Tomi and stated that all the founders invested $10 million from their private capital.https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryq7yzxvh By 2024, the Tomi cryptocurrency lost nearly 97% from its peak value and market cap https://www.coincarp.com/currencies/tomi-com/

Hogeg was relatively unknown in Israeli football before he acquired Beitar.{{Cite news|last=Capstick|first=Alex|date=December 20, 2019|title=Beitar Jerusalem: How do you change 'the most racist' club in Israel?|work=BBC Sport|location=Jerusalem|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50842424|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519174811/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50842424|url-status=live}}

On July 15, 2021, Hogeg announced the cancellation of a planned match between Beitar and FC Barcelona, after Barcelona refused to hold the event in the disputed city of Jerusalem.{{Cite news|date=July 15, 2021|title=Dispute Over Jerusalem Scuttles Israeli Club's Soccer Match With Barcelona|work=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/sports/dispute-over-jerusalem-scuttles-israeli-club-s-soccer-match-with-barcelona-1.10003469|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716103056/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/sports/dispute-over-jerusalem-scuttles-israeli-club-s-soccer-match-with-barcelona-1.10003469|url-status=live}} Hogeg said that he was "a proud Jew and Israeli" and could not "betray Jerusalem". In August 2022, Hogeg sold Beitar Jerusalem to Barak Abramov.{{Cite web |title=Can Barak Abramov save Israel's Beitar Jerusalem soccer club? |url=https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-716525 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=staff |first=T. O. I. |title=Beitar soccer club sale finalized following last minute fund-raising from abroad |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/beitar-soccer-club-sale-finalized-following-last-minute-fund-raising-from-abroad/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}

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Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Israeli businesspeople

Category:Businesspeople from Beersheba

Category:Beitar Jerusalem F.C.

Category:Israeli Mizrahi Jews

Category:Israeli people of Moroccan descent

Category:Israeli people of Tunisian descent

Category:Arab Jews