Gurhan Kiziloz builds companies that force markets to pay attention. As the founder of Nexus International, he transformed a private gaming group into a global powerhouse, closing 2025 with $1.2 billion in revenue and a presence in over 40 regulated markets. This was done without venture capital, without a boardroom full of advisors, and without ever taking the company public. Now, Kiziloz is entering the blockchain space with BlockDAG, a new crypto infrastructure project aiming for a top 100 market cap position, and he’s bringing the same lean, disciplined strategy that turned Nexus into one of gaming’s most profitable private empires.
Unlike many startup founders who rely on external advisors, Kiziloz has built his reputation on control, clarity, and speed. Nexus International, home to platforms like Spartans.com, Lanistar, and Megaposta, was scaled through internal capital and hands-on leadership. The group now operates in over 40 regulated markets, including early licensing success in Brazil, where Megaposta outperformed competitors who struggled with onboarding under the new iGaming law.
But Kiziloz isn’t one to stay in one vertical for long. With the foundation in gaming secure, his next move is into blockchain infrastructure, and BlockDAG is the first step in that direction.
BlockDAG is not a rebranded protocol or a fork of another chain. It’s a project being built from the ground up, and with Kiziloz at the helm, it’s operating under the same principles that took Nexus from unknown to industry leader in under five years. That includes a ruthless commitment to execution, starting with how the team is structured.
“Gurhan doesn’t build bloated teams,” said a senior strategist familiar with both Nexus and BlockDAG. “He builds elite ones, small, fast, and focused. If someone slows the project down, they’re out. That’s been the model since Spartans, and now it’s how BlockDAG is being built.”
Kiziloz is known for cleansing teams quickly, removing underperformers and maintaining a tight circle of decision-makers. This keeps projects agile, avoids internal politics, and ensures that strategy and execution remain tightly aligned. It’s not a traditional startup model, but it’s one that has delivered real results.
His track record in the crypto gaming space already set the stage. With Spartans.com, Kiziloz introduced a one-of-a-kind crypto gaming platform, which challenged the status quo in online betting. Now, with BlockDAG, he’s applying that same logic to a new layer: blockchain infrastructure itself.
The goal isn’t just to launch another token. The vision is to build a top 100 blockchain network by market cap, a goal that requires more than marketing. It requires product-market fit, technical resilience, and operational clarity from day one. That’s exactly where Kiziloz has built his edge over the years.
Sources close to the project say BlockDAG will focus on scalable architecture, high throughput, and community-aligned token economics, all designed with sustainability, not hype, in mind. The project has no inflated team headcount or public distraction until core systems are ready for deployment.
What sets Gurhan Kiziloz apart isn’t just his revenue milestones, it’s how he gets there. Nexus International reached $1.2 billion in 2025 with no IPO, no investor dilution, and no PR overreach. Kiziloz’s model is simple: build lean, scale fast, and cut what doesn’t work, but that may be exactly what makes BlockDAG different. With a founder like Kiziloz steering the ship, it is safe to say that the project will be a success.
From Spartans.com to Megaposta, Gurhan Kiziloz has already proven that he can build platforms that scale, generate revenue, and win market share. With $1.2B in revenue under his belt, he's now turning to blockchain with the same intent, to build, not to speculate. BlockDAG isn’t just another crypto project chasing trends. It’s a founder-led execution story in the making.
If history is any guide, Gurhan Kiziloz doesn’t enter markets to follow. He enters them & takes control always.
This article was written in cooperation with Nexus International