1. His knowledge of Bitcoin and Bitcoin markets was excellent. He was able to explain it without getting all crypto-geek.

After reading a lot of messages from Mark, it's pretty clear that he had serious holes in his knowledge about blockchain technology. He didn't know how blockchains and wallets work, he didn't know how to do a proper ICO, etc.

He is clearly a marketer. He can sell stuff. But that doesn't mean he really knows what he is talking about. He is just good at acting like he knows something.

1. He was open about his prior story - most people who have spent two years in prison for growing cannabis or who ran a mammoth adult site would keep that sort of stuff quiet.

That is just a way of manipulating people, to create image that "I'm trustworthy because I tell these things openly".

(source)

1. A few of the business ideas struck me as breakthrough ideas (especially for remittances using Bitcoin) - all he needed to do was pull them off.

Remittance with Bitcoin is an old idea that many companies have tried doing. Nothing original here.

1. I felt that Bitcoin was going to be a very important new investment arena and here was someone doing all the spadework. So there was enough excitement in Banx for me to make a risk investment (I allocate about 5% of my portfolio to high risk and leveraged opportunities).

Well, you made the mistake to believe he was actually doing something other than collecting investment money.

1. I had already seen Mark's prior Internet marketing products and have actually bought some of them.

Seriously?

1. He comes from a place in England, where my family come from - I understand those folk

But you haven't yet understood that Mark didn't have any legitimate business at any point?

I was not happy when I got the phone call saying that Banx was being closed down. BUT I did get a phone call. What did I learn from the phone call and the subsequent conversations? Like many entrepreneurs, Mark had over-extended himself in enthusiasm. He was chasing too many things. Many of the things did not have the right sort of value. Some were not going to happen - for reasons of regulation and/or market access. And the most important business idea had some big technical costs to get going.

Have you actually looked into this case? I did and I'm very sure that Mark is a scammer. Read my latest post and if you want to know the evidence, read through the sources I've listed. It will give you a much better picture of the events.

Have you seen any accounting books? Have Mark actually shown you how he spent all the money?

If Mark wants to clear the scam accusations, he should publish all relevant financial information of all Banx companies. That is the only way. Your word is worth zero because it seems that only person you have talked about this case has been Mark.