A deep-dive founder feature goes inside the RICO and white-collar defense strategy of a New York attorney building his practice — and his public voice — on hard truths, not comfortable ones.

NEW YORK, NY, September 17, 2026

New York-based attorney Leo Shalit, founder and principal of Shalit Group — Attorneys at Law, is stepping into the spotlight as a founder-level, disruptive voice in federal criminal defense, RICO, and complex white-collar matters, backed by a strategic focus on thought leadership and high-stakes casework. As federal prosecutions grow more data-driven and more aggressive, Shalit’s rise reflects a broader shift in how defendants and their counsel are being forced to adapt — treating federal defense not as a single moment in a courtroom, but as a sustained, strategic campaign that begins long before an indictment is ever unsealed.

Shalit began his legal career in personal injury before building a significant federal criminal practice. Today, his docket includes federal indictments, government investigations, and RICO cases involving serious exposure and intense scrutiny. He has represented clients at some of the most critical junctures of their lives — from arrests at airports and emergency bail hearings to pre-trial solitary confinement in sensitive federal prosecutions. That range, from the first phone call after an arrest to the final negotiation before trial, has shaped a practice built as much on crisis management as on courtroom advocacy.

A forthcoming founder-style feature will explore how Shalit built his practice, the mentors who shaped him, and how he approaches cases where the Department of Justice and federal agencies have already invested substantial resources before a defendant even learns they are under investigation.

A RICO and Federal Defense Lens on Modern Prosecution

At the core of Shalit’s growing public profile is his work with RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statutes and related complex government cases. Enacted in 1970 to dismantle organized crime syndicates, RICO is now increasingly applied to businesses, professionals, and financial disputes, dramatically raising the stakes for individuals and organizations pulled into its orbit. A single RICO charge can transform a business dispute or a financial disagreement into a matter carrying the weight of a racketeering prosecution — with sentencing exposure, asset forfeiture, and reputational consequences that few defendants are prepared for.

Shalit notes that modern prosecutions are not only legal but highly technical, built on:

• Digital evidence such as metadata and communications trails

• Financial records and banking data that map alleged schemes

• Cooperating witnesses and structured investigations that can extend over years

In this environment, he argues, it is more difficult than ever for defendants to navigate the process alone — or with counsel that underestimates the complexity of federal practice. Federal cases move on a different timeline and a different evidentiary standard than most defendants, and even many attorneys, are used to, and the margin for a misstep shrinks the moment an investigation goes public.

The trend was on full display in the recent federal case against music mogul Sean Combs, where prosecutors alleged his business operation itself functioned as a criminal enterprise — a jury ultimately acquitted him of the RICO charge while convicting on related counts, underscoring both how aggressively the statute is now deployed and how far from certain its outcomes are.

“From a RICO and federal defense lens, RICO is a powerful prosecutorial tool, but its use does not guarantee a conviction,” Shalit says. “The federal case against Sean Combs made that distinction clear: prosecutors alleged that his business operation functioned as a criminal enterprise, yet the jury acquitted him of the RICO charge while convicting him on related counts. The outcome demonstrates both how aggressively the statute is being applied and why every RICO case must be evaluated on its specific facts and evidence — not assumptions.”

“When the government opens a federal RICO or white-collar investigation, your life can be materially altered before, during, and long after the case,” Shalit says. “Very few people leave truly unscathed. My role is to confront that reality head-on and guide clients through the storm toward the best possible outcome.”

“Memento Mori”: A Philosophy for High-Stakes Defense

Shalit’s philosophy is rooted in “Memento Mori” — the ancient reminder to remember that one day you will die. For him, this is not morbidity; it is discipline.

The concept, which dates back to Roman generals being reminded of their mortality even at the height of victory, shapes how he approaches both his clients’ crises and his own professional standards. It is a philosophy that resists both panic and complacency — a way of holding the gravity of a case without being paralyzed by it.

“When you’re up, remember you may one day be down; when you’re down, one day you’ll be up,” Shalit explains. “That mindset keeps you grounded. In federal defense, it means telling clients the truth, not what they want to hear, and staying focused on the decisions that actually move their lives in a better direction.”

Shalit emphasizes that his support for clients is not just legal but also strategic and human: helping them manage extreme stress, understand the implications of each choice, and avoid the most damaging mistakes — especially lying to federal agents or destroying evidence, which can create new charges such as obstruction of justice. In his experience, some of the most consequential decisions in a federal case are made in the first 48 hours, often before an attorney is even in the room.

In a legal landscape where prosecutors win the overwhelming majority of cases they bring, Shalit is frank about what that means.

“It’s not only about good or bad lawyering; it’s about how strong and data-driven these cases have become,” he says. “What I offer clients is not a guarantee, but clarity, straight talk, and the willingness to fight hard within the realities of federal law. That combination — honesty plus performance — is where real defense work lives.”

A Founder’s Approach to a High-Stakes Practice

What distinguishes Shalit within the federal defense bar is not only his casework but the way he is building his practice and his public profile — approaching a traditionally insular field with the visibility, positioning, and strategic communication more often associated with startup founders than criminal defense attorneys. That approach is drawing attention from clients, peers, and media alike, as the forthcoming founder feature will explore in greater depth.

About Leo Shalit and Shalit Group — Attorneys at Law

Leo Shalit is the founder and principal of Shalit Group — Attorneys at Law, a New York-based practice spanning federal indictments, government investigations, and RICO and white-collar prosecutions. Before focusing on federal criminal defense, he built his early career in personal injury law. His practice is grounded in a philosophy of honesty, discipline, and strategic clarity for clients navigating some of the highest-stakes moments of their lives.

Shalit Group — Attorneys at Law reviews the details of your situation, explains your options, and provides honest guidance at no cost and with no obligation. Submit your information and call today. Your path to justice starts with them.

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Liana Zavo
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Public-evidence assessment finds 22 of 26 major exchanges show no qualifying evidence across six post-quantum migration criteria

SAN DIEGO, Calif., September 17, 2026

NFT Demon Holdings LLC has published The State of Exchange Quantum-Readiness 2026, a public-evidence survey assessing 26 major cryptocurrency exchanges against six criteria related to post-quantum migration readiness.

According to the survey, 22 of the 26 exchanges, including Binance, OKX, Bybit, Kraken, Gemini and Crypto.com, show no qualifying public evidence across the survey’s six criteria: a published migration plan, named algorithm targets, a dated timeline, a cryptographic inventory, deployed or piloted post-quantum cryptography, or executive commitment to act.

The survey evaluates each exchange using six criteria, with each criterion requiring concrete and attributable public evidence. The criteria include:

• Published migration plan

• Named post-quantum algorithm targets, such as ML-KEM (FIPS 203), ML-DSA (FIPS 204), or SLH-DSA (FIPS 205)

• Dated migration timeline

• Cryptographic key inventory

• Post-quantum cryptography deployed or piloted

• Executive acknowledgment and commitment to action

Among the exchanges assessed, Coinbase and KuCoin tie for the highest observed score at 4/6.

Coinbase’s score includes evidence of program breadth, including its PQ-CoreKMS key-management build and a full company-wide cryptography inventory. KuCoin’s score includes its operation of what the survey identifies as the industry’s only live post-quantum cryptography (PQC) test gateway.

Bithumb follows with a score of 3/6, based on its Aton-partnered full-lifecycle framework. BitMEX scores 1/6 for engaging in Bitcoin’s protocol-level quantum discussion through its “Quantum Canary” proposal.

“The standards have been final for two years, the harvesting of exposed keys has already started, and regulators have begun naming names,” said Jeremy Ryan, founder of NFT Demon Holdings and advisor to quantum-security firms QSAVE and QKey. “Twenty-two of twenty-six exchanges have no public plan. And to the leaders: 3/6 and 4/6 are better than zero, but the technology to reach 6/6 already exists. Not in concept; in practice.”

Ryan added that NFT Demon Holdings has developed a quantum-readiness approach intended to address the requirements identified in the survey.

“NFT Demon Holdings LLC is the only consulting firm I’m aware of that can accomplish 6/6 with no separate blockchain and no per-transaction fees, both of which are non-starters,” Ryan said. “This is particularly dangerous because so many resources are going into solutions built on those non-starters, setting the entire industry further back. It’s also the only solution I know of that offers insurance with protection. For companies holding billions of dollars of other people’s money, there is no longer an excuse to put that at risk.”

Survey Uses a Strict Public-Evidence Standard

The survey is deliberately structured around publicly verifiable evidence. A score of zero means that no public evidence was found, rather than establishing that an exchange has no internal quantum-readiness program.

The complete 26-row scorecard, scoring rubric, methodology and source ledger are available through NFT Demon Holdings’ published survey.

Read the full survey:The State of Exchange Quantum-Readiness 2026

Quantum-Readiness Advisory

NFT Demon Holdings provides quantum-readiness advisory services for cryptocurrency exchanges, custodians, wallet providers, private capital firms, financial institutions and funds. Its services range from key inventory and vendor evaluation to full migration planning.

About NFT Demon Holdings LLC

NFT Demon Holdings LLC is a San Diego consulting and development firm founded in 2022 by Jeremy Ryan, widely known as NFT Demon. The firm provides consulting, advisory and bespoke custom application development in blockchain, artificial intelligence and quantum computing for enterprises, public figures and governments.

Learn more atNFTDemon.com.

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Jeremy Ryan Founder and CEO NFT Demon Holdings LLC
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Phone: 858-327-1144
Website: nftdemon.com

Longtime TCF supporter Mike Nithavrianakis is taking on a series of international marathons to raise $1 million for children’s education in Pakistan 

CHICAGO, Illinois

Former British diplomat Mike Nithavrianakis is dedicating his 2026 marathon season to advancing children’s education in Pakistan through the Global Run for Education. The campaign aims to raise $1 million in support of The Citizens Foundation (TCF) and expand access to quality education for children from underserved communities.

Nithavrianakis has already completed the Milan Marathon on April 12, the London Marathon on April 26 and the Sydney Marathon on August 30. His campaign will continue with the Chicago Marathon on October 11 and the New York City Marathon on November 1, before culminating in Karachi on January 3, 2027.

The campaign builds on a relationship with TCF that began during Nithavrianakis’s diplomatic service in Pakistan. While serving as Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi and Trade Director for Pakistan for the British Government from 2019 to 2022, he visited a TCF school and saw firsthand both the scale of Pakistan’s education challenge and what access to quality education could make possible.

“My first school visit left a deep imprint,” Nithavrianakis said. “I have many lasting impressions, but the clearest memory is of interacting with a group of quite young pupils who were so engrossed that one could literally see their thirst for learning and knowledge.”

Nithavrianakis later combined his passion for running with fundraising for TCF. During his posting in Pakistan, he took on the London and Manchester Marathons within a week of each other, helping raise more than $350,000 to fund a new TCF campus in Matiari District, Sindh. TCF School, The Nithavrianakis Campus, now carries his family name.

The 2026 Global Run for Education builds on that earlier effort at a time when approximately 25.2 million children in Pakistan remain out of school. Based on TCF’s annual cost of educating one student, the campaign’s $1 million goal is equivalent to supporting roughly 6,000 students for a full academic year.

Economic hardship and limited access to affordable, quality schools continue to keep millions of children out of classrooms across Pakistan. TCF works to change that by bringing education closer to underserved communities with its 2,261 school units and expanding opportunities for girls who often face the greatest barriers to staying in school.

Its model also creates opportunities for women. TCF’s all-female faculty of 16,500 teachers provides local employment and helps build confidence among families sending their daughters to school. By combining access to education with women’s participation in the workforce, TCF aims to strengthen both individual opportunity and communities over the long term.

The Citizens Foundation, USA (TCF-USA) supports TCF’s education programs and initiatives in Pakistan.

“Mike’s campaign shows how a personal commitment can invite people around the world to take part in lasting change,” said Salman Hasan, CEO of TCF-USA. “Every mile draws attention to children who are still waiting for a classroom, and every donation helps create a real educational opportunity.”

Given the strong support for TCF across the United States, Nithavrianakis and Hasan are also considering how future race entries could help reach new supporters in 2027 and beyond.

For Nithavrianakis, the campaign remains rooted in a simple belief about opportunity.

“All any parent can hope for in life is that their child is given the same opportunities as others,” he said. “With TCF the sky’s the limit.”

Supporters can contribute to the Global Run for Education and follow Nithavrianakis’s progress as the campaign continues through the United States and beyond.

To support Mike Nithavrianakis’s 2026 Global Run for Education, visit:
https://fundraise.tcfglobal.org/fundraiser/891645838259/mike-s-2026-global-run-to-educate-6-000-children

To learn more about TCF-USA and its work, visit:
https://www.tcfusa.org/

About The Citizens Foundation, USA

The Citizens Foundation, USA is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID 41-2046295, that supports the education of underserved children in Pakistan. TCF-USA has an active network of more than 40 chapters across the United States.

TCF-USA supports programs, initiatives, and projects of The Citizens Foundation in Pakistan. TCF was established in 1995 by a group of citizens seeking to create social change through education. The organization operates 2,261 purpose-built school units serving 320,000 students. Its all-female faculty includes 16,500 teachers, and TCF maintains a balanced gender ratio among students.

TCF-USA donors have helped build and support more than 800 elementary and secondary schools with an enrollment of over 122,000 girls and boys. TCF-USA’s Board of Directors maintains full discretion and control over donations and grants supporting projects in Pakistan. Contributions are tax-deductible in the United States to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Media Contact Details
Salman Hasan
The Citizens Foundation, USA
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Phone: 888-729-3022