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3 clusters · 14 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated

OneCoin cryptocurrency fraud investigation

Overview

Legal and investigative actions continue regarding the OneCoin cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, founded by Ruja Ignatova. While Ignatova remains at large and is wanted internationally, authorities have begun recovering assets and prosecuting associates.

In early October 2026, German prosecutors in Bielefeld seized approximately 10.1 million euros from the sale of two London apartments linked to Ignatova. These funds are intended for victim compensation. The scheme, which operated primarily between 2014 and 2016, is estimated to have caused billions of euros in global losses.

Concurrently, the Darmstadt District Court has commenced the trial of Björn S., the former husband of Ignatova. The proceedings investigate whether the 50-year-old lawyer was aware of the criminal origins of approximately 16 million euros transferred via a Hong Kong-based company. Investigators are also scrutinizing the purchase of a luxury villa in Bad Homburg, valued at over 7 million euros, to determine if it was financed by fraudulent OneCoin proceeds; a security mortgage has already been placed on the property.

Regarding the status of the founder, Emil Stoyanov, head of the Search Sector at the Bulgarian General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, stated that Ruja Ignatova is still alive. He clarified that despite rumors of her death in the Ionian Sea in 2018, there is no operational data or information from foreign services confirming her death. Ignatova remains on the FBI’s most wanted list with a $5 million reward offered for information leading to her capture.

Entities

Onecoin · Ruja Ignatova · FBI · IMS GmbH · Björn S.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Ruja Ignatova is alive, according to Bulgarian police official

    Bulgarian police official Emil Stoyanov confirmed that OneCoin founder Ruja Ignatova is alive and remains a top international fugitive, despite rumors of her death in 2018.

  2. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Germany trials former husband of Ruja Ignatova for money laundering

    The former husband of missing OneCoin founder Ruja Ignatova is on trial in Germany for money laundering involving approximately 16 million euros and luxury real estate.

  3. [CRIME] 10 sources
    Ruja Ignatova: 10.1 million euros seized in Onecoin fraud case

    German prosecutors have seized 10.1 million euros from the assets of Onecoin founder Ruja Ignatova to compensate victims. Ignatova remains at large despite an international manhunt.

Sources

allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de · fakti.bg · it-bg.org · kurierverlag.de · leinetal24.de · netnews.bg · petel.bg · plovdiv24.bg · ruse.news · safenews.bg · standartnews.com · supertipp-online.de · vesti.bg · wz.de

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history