Bankruptcy Orders
AGER-HANSSEN, CHRISTEN EUGEN
Flat 5, 9 Whistler Square, LONDON, SW1W 8DB
CHRISTEN EUGEN AGER-HANSSEN of Flat 5, 9 Whistler Square, London, SW1W 8DB, whose occupation is as an internet entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
In the High Court Of Justice
No 484 of 2024
Date of Filing Petition: 13 June 2024
Bankruptcy order date: 19 August 2024
Time of Bankruptcy Order: 12:39
Whether Debtor's or Creditor's Petition—Creditor's
Name and address of petitioner: NCHAIN HOLDING AG (formerly HEH HOLDING AG)Äulestrasse 2, Vaduz, 9490
V Prime 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, LONDON, E20 1HZ, telephone: 0300 678 0016
Capacity of office holder(s): Trustee
19 August 2024
The Rise and Ruin of Christen Ager-Hanssen: A Billionaire’s Fall and the Shadows of Scandal
The name Christen Ager-Hanssen once echoed across financial circles as a symbol of unbridled ambition and larger-than-life wealth. A self-proclaimed billionaire and globe-trotting venture capitalist, Ager-Hanssen’s rise from obscurity to international prominence was a saga of audacious deals, calculated risks, and relentless self-promotion.
But beneath the glitzy exterior, a darker narrative was brewing — one riddled with bankruptcies, covert operations, legal battles, and allegations of financial misconduct. Today, as the Norwegian financier-turned-politician campaigns for a parliamentary seat in Norway’s Storting, his tumultuous past has come under intense scrutiny, raising questions about his credibility and fitness for public office.
From Billionaire to Bankrupt
In a High Court ruling dated August 19, 2024, Christen Eugen Ager-Hanssen was declared bankrupt following a petition by his former employer, the cryptocurrency firm N-chain. The bankruptcy marks the latest chapter in a series of financial collapses that have defined his career.
Ager-Hanssen’s personal wealth claims were always a point of contention. In 2023, as the CEO of N-chain, he touted himself as a billionaire, leveraging the title for credibility in the volatile world of cryptocurrency. But less than a year later, his empire had crumbled. After being fired from N-chain, he turned whistleblower, accusing the company of corruption. What followed was a cascade of lawsuits, culminating in his bankruptcy.
Court documents detail a labyrinth of unpaid legal fees and debts stemming from failed injunctions. Creditors, including N-chain Holding AG, cited millions in outstanding claims, painting a picture of a financier whose financial acumen could no longer sustain the weight of his ambitions.
A Pattern of Controversy
Ager-Hanssen’s business ventures have long been punctuated by allegations of misconduct, espionage-like tactics, and public feuds. From the collapse of his early venture capital firm Cognition during the dot-com bust to the bankruptcies of FlyMe and Metro International, the financier’s career is a trail of financial wreckage that has left creditors, employees, and partners in its wake.
In 2023, Ager-Hanssen orchestrated the secret recording of U.S. lawyer Kyle Roche, releasing footage that derailed Roche’s career. The operation, later admitted by Ager-Hanssen, was emblematic of his modus operandi: aggressive, covert, and unapologetically ruthless.
This was not an isolated incident. Over the years, he has employed private intelligence firms with alleged ties to Mossad and the CIA to gather compromising information on adversaries. In one case, he secretly recorded conversations involving Swedish banking executives during a financial dispute. In another, he used covert surveillance to expose a Swedish journalist soliciting funds for favorable coverage. Critics argue these tactics blur the lines between corporate maneuvering and outright espionage.
The “Glass Jellyfish” Philosophy
In his 2002 book The Jellyfish Society, Ager-Hanssen derides those he considers “spineless” and “intellectually challenged,” likening them to “glass jellyfish” — transparent and directionless. This inflammatory philosophy has resurfaced in his political campaign, fueling criticism about his disdain for ordinary citizens.
“He’s openly contemptuous of the very people he wants to represent,” said a political analyst in Rogaland, the Norwegian county where Ager-Hanssen is running for office. “His words suggest a deep disconnect between his self-image as a visionary and the realities of democratic governance.”
Legal Troubles and a Chaotic Candidacy
Ager-Hanssen’s bid for political office has thrown Norway’s Conservative Party (Høyre) into disarray. Rogaland County Secretary Daniel Aamodt admitted the party’s vetting process for the controversial candidate was cursory at best. “We Googled him,” Aamodt said, noting that his legal troubles were “complex” to decipher.
These troubles include a January 2024 conviction for contempt of court in England, which resulted in a 10-month prison sentence. Ager-Hanssen defied legal orders to remove leaked documents from the internet, prompting the court to describe his actions as “brazen and unrepentant.”
Adding to his woes are allegations of financial misconduct. The ex-wife of a Russian billionaire claims Ager-Hanssen pocketed NOK 15 million in fees for divorce-related services he allegedly failed to deliver.
Political Ambitions or Reputation Salvage?
As Ager-Hanssen campaigns for a seat in Norway’s Storting, critics argue his candidacy is less about public service and more about reviving his battered reputation. His rhetoric — once describing himself as a “crazy motherf****r” in a 2017 interview — reveals a combative personality that thrives on conflict and controversy.
Observers fear his presence on the Conservative Party’s platform will undermine the party’s credibility. “This isn’t just about him,” one political analyst said. “It’s about whether Høyre is willing to risk its reputation for a candidate whose career reads like a catalog of controversy.”
A Legacy of Division
For Ager-Hanssen, the stakes are high. His political aspirations represent a gamble — a final attempt to recast himself not as a financial pariah but as a bold, unorthodox leader. Yet, the shadows of his past loom large, threatening to overshadow his campaign.
Whether the voters of Rogaland will embrace this polarizing figure remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that Christen Ager-Hanssen’s journey from billionaire to bankrupt, from scandal to political ambition, is a cautionary tale of how ambition and controversy can intertwine in the pursuit of power.