Africa Bitcoin CEO Warren Wheatley resigns

Staff Writer

The Namibia Securities Exchange listed Africa Bitcoin Corporation Limited (ABC), formerly Altvest Capital, has announced the resignation of Warren Wheatley as chief executive officer (CEO), effective 21 September 2026.

Wheatley, who had been placed on precautionary leave from his position, has also resigned as an employee of the company. The board has accepted his resignation.

Stafford Masie will continue serving as interim CEO while the board proceeds with the process of appointing a permanent chief executive.

The resignation follows an announcement by ABC on 1 September regarding decisions issued by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) against Wheatley, chief investment officer Akshay Karan and head of media and investor relations Tatum Wheatley.

The FSCA decisions included debarment orders restricting the three individuals from providing or being involved in the provision of financial products or financial services, acting as key persons of financial institutions, or providing services to financial institutions.

ABC said the individuals dispute the FSCA findings and have applied to the Financial Services Tribunal for reconsideration and suspension of the decisions.

The company said no order suspending the FSCA decisions had been granted at the time of its 1 September announcement, meaning the decisions remained effective.

ABC stressed that the FSCA decisions were not issued against any entity within the group and that no finding, administrative penalty or debarment order had been imposed on any group entity.

As a precautionary measure, ABC placed Wheatley and Karan on leave from their respective executive roles and all group executive, management, advisory, operational and decision-making responsibilities from 31 August.

The company also suspended services provided by Tatum Wheatley through her consulting business, subject to the applicable services agreement.

Masie, an existing executive director and director of Bitcoin Strategy, assumed the role of interim CEO from 31 August.

He is also overseeing the group’s executive arrangements relating to Altvest Credit Opportunities Fund Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ABC.

ABC said the measures were precautionary and non-disciplinary and did not constitute a determination by the board on the merits of the FSCA findings or the individuals’ challenges.

Wheatley also resigned as a director of ABC effective 31 August. He, Karan and Tatum Wheatley additionally resigned as directors of Altvest Credit Opportunities Fund with effect from the same date.

ABC said Wheatley’s reconsideration application and related proceedings before the Financial Services Tribunal are personal to him and will continue independently of the company.

The board said it remains focused on leadership continuity and the stability of the group.