{{Short description|Israeli businessman (born 1981)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Moshe Hogeg | native_name = משה חוגג | native_name_lang = he | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|5|15|df=yes}} | birth_place = Beersheba, Israel | occupation = Businessman | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | module = }}
'''Moshe Hogeg''' ({{Langx|he|משה חוגג}}; born 15 May 1981) is an Israeli businessman.
== Early life == Hogeg was born on 15 May 1981, in Beersheba, and grew up in the nearby local council of Meitar.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Amit|first=Hagai|date=11 March 2016|title=An Israeli Startup Guru Who Doesn't Waste Time on Modesty|work=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/2016-03-11/ty-article/.premium/israeli-startup-guru-who-doesnt-waste-time-on-modesty/0000017f-e8f0-dc7e-adff-f8fd7c390000|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 July 2021|archive-date=11 February 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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ron|first=Liat|date=14 October 2014|title=פורטפוליו משה חוגג|language=he|work=Globes|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000978537|access-date=16 July 2021|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605123053/https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000978537|url-status=live}}</ref> He identifies as an Arab Jew, his father was born in Tunisia and his mother in Morocco.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Halbfinger|first1=David M.|last2=Rasgon|first2=Adam|date=7 December 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=16 July 2021|archive-date=13 May 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}}</ref>
== Business ventures == In 2010, Hogeg founded Mobli, which reportedly attracted numerous celebrity investors including Carlos Slim, Serena Williams, and Leonardo DiCaprio.<ref name="Spiro 2021">{{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=21 November 2021 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/alleged-dirty-dealings-and-sex-offenses-moshe-hogegs-long-history-of-deceit/ | access-date=23 December 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Spiro 2021" /> In April 2014, he co-founded Yo app, the app was valued at between $5 and $10 million in July 2014.<ref>{{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=13 September 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Spiro 2021" /> 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).<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Darel|first=Yael|date=20 June 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=16 July 2021|archive-date=10 September 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=dead}}</ref> He paid 15 percent of the purchase price in Bitcoin, believed to be the first real estate transaction in Israel conducted with the cryptocurrency.<ref name=":1" />
Hogeg has invested as well in several ventures including, Moonactive,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Hazani |first=Golan |date=9 August 2020 |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=13 September 2022 |website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}}</ref><ref>{{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=13 September 2022}}</ref> StoreDot<ref>{{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=13 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dobrovitsky |first=Lital |date=30 March 2021 |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=13 September 2022 |website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}}</ref> and Delek Group.<ref name=":2" />
Throughout his business career, Hogeg has faced lawsuits over his ventures from investors and former employees, including former members of Singulariteam.<ref name="Weinglass 2021">{{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=31 May 2021 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-of-israels-most-hyped-initial-coin-offerings-were-scams-ex-employees-allege/ | access-date=23 December 2021}}</ref> Most were settled out of court with plaintiffs signing nondisclosure agreements.<ref name="Weinglass 2021" />
=== Tomi Cryptocurrency === In September 2022, Hogeg launched the Tomi cryptocurrency project. In an interview with a local newspaper in Marrakesh, he identified himself as the CEO of Tomi and stated that all the founders invested $10 million from their private capital.<ref>https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryq7yzxvh</ref> By 2024, the Tomi cryptocurrency lost nearly 97% from its peak value and market cap <ref> https://www.coincarp.com/currencies/tomi-com/</ref>
=== Beitar Jerusalem F.C. === In 2021, Hogeg acquired Beitar Jerusalem F.C..<ref>{{Cite news|last=Capstick|first=Alex|date=20 December 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=16 July 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519174811/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50842424|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 15 July 2021, Hogeg announced the cancellation of a planned match between Beitar and FC Barcelona, after Barcelona refused to hold the event in the city of Jerusalem.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=15 July 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=16 July 2021|archive-date=16 July 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=dead}}</ref> He said that he was "a proud Jew and Israeli" and could not "betray Jerusalem".<ref name=":0" /> In August 2022, he sold Beitar Jerusalem to Barak Abramov.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can Barak Abramov save Israel's Beitar Jerusalem soccer club? |url=https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-716525 |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |issn=0792-822X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |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=13 September 2022 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>
== Arrest, investigation and criminal charges == Hogeg was arrested in November 2021 over alleged sexual offenses and cryptocurrency-related fraud.<ref>{{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=https://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=2 October 2022 |access-date=7 April 2025 |work=Haaretz.com |language=en}}</ref> He was subsequently released on a $22 million bail bond to house arrest.<ref name="Magid 2021">{{cite web |last=Magid |first=Jacob |date=14 December 2021 |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/ |access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=The Times of Israel}}</ref> Following the arrest, Moshe's Ferrari was repossessed by the state of Israel and soon after publicly auctioned.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 August 2022 |title=הפרארי ממכרז החילוט של המשטרה - יד שלישית ממשה חוגג {{!}} כלכליסט |url=https://www.calcalist.co.il/local_news/car/article/byahdckc5 |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=calcalist |language=he}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
In July 2022, Hogeg was re-arrested by the Israeli police for failing to fulfill his court ordered bail bond requirement. <ref>{{cite web |title=Moshe Hogeg, suspected of massive fraud, rearrested for not paying bail |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/moshe-hogeg-suspected-of-massive-fraud-rearrested-for-not-paying-bail/ |website=The Times of Israel}}</ref>
In August 2023, the Israeli National Fraud Investigations Unit (NAU) recommended to indict Hogeg for defrauding investors of $290 million.<ref>https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/wzn84hkpk</ref>
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.<ref>{{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=7 April 2025 |website=כאן {{!}} תאגיד השידור הישראלי |language=he}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hogeg, Moshe}} 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