The “CryptoQueen,” Ruja Ignatova, is still missing, and the US government is offering a $5 million reward for information that leads to her capture or conviction. Co-founder of the contentious cryptocurrency OneCoin Ignatova is charged with masterminding one of the biggest fraud schemes in history, tricking investors out of nearly $4 billion.
Born in Bulgaria and raised in Germany, Ruja Ignatova attended Oxford University and was a rising star in the banking industry. She appeared ready for greatness, with an exceptional academic background and a gift for communication. Ignatova introduced OneCoin in 2014 with the goal of surpassing Bitcoin. With her astounding profits guaranteed, she enthralled millions of investors throughout the globe.
The Rise of OneCoin
In 2014, Ruja Ignatova and Karl Sebastian Greenwood launched OneCoin in Sofia, Bulgaria, branding it as a “Bitcoin killer.” Promoted as a legitimate cryptocurrency, OneCoin quickly gained popularity.
Ignatova and her younger brother, Konstantin, alongside Greenwood, held extravagant events to promote their venture. These included glamorous parties and international company events in Dubai, Macao, Singapore, and the UK. Ignatova even reportedly invited singer Tom Jones to perform at her birthday party in London.
According to court documents, these high-profile events and the purchase of millions of dollars’ worth of real estate worldwide were part of the facade to project legitimacy. However, the reality was starkly different.
The Alleged Scam
In 2019, an investor who sued Ignatova and her associates revealed that OneCoin was a Ponzi scheme. The cryptocurrency,
blockchain, and mining farms it was based on never actually existed. Investors were lured in with false promises and slick marketing, only to find their money siphoned off into the founders’ pockets.
By October 2017, Cryptoqueen Ignatova was indicted by a grand jury in New York on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. To avoid arrest, she fled from Sofia, Bulgaria to Athens, Greece and has been missing ever since. A BBC podcast speculated that she might have undergone plastic surgery and is living incognito somewhere in Europe.
In February 2018, further charges of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and securities fraud were added to Ignatova’s list of alleged crimes. In 2022, she was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List.
Close ties with Bulgarian Mafia
However, there is a conspiracy theory behind her disappearance. It is reported that she was murdered by the Bulgarian Mafia. Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis, better known as Taki, a suspected Bulgarian organised crime boss, oversaw Cryptoqueen Ignatova’s security. There is widespread belief that he eliminated Ruja Ignatova.
Taki, a well-known Bulgarian figure, is suspected of utilising OneCoin’s banking network to launder drug money. Despite being charged with armed robbery, drug trafficking, and murder, Taki has never been convicted. Taki is said to live in Dubai, where cryptoqueen Ignatova conducts major financial operations.
Ruja Ignatova: Billion-Dollar Scammer Cryptoqueen is Mysteriously Missing Since 2018
Germany has also brought criminal accusations against her for her involvement in the plan. Meanwhile, her brother Konstantin was detained at Los Angeles International Airport in 2019, and Greenwood pled guilty in a Manhattan federal court in 2022 to conspiring to swindle investors and launder money.
The Ongoing Search for Cryptoqueen
Despite the extensive manhunt, Cryptoqueen Ignatova remains at large. The U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to her arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information on Ignatova’s whereabouts can contact the FBI through various channels, including Telegram (@RujaReward), Signal (@RujaReward.01), online at
tips.fbi.gov, or via the local FBI office. International informants are encouraged to visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
The OneCoin scandal serves as a stark reminder of the risks in the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies. It underscores the importance of thorough research and skepticism, especially in investments promising high returns with minimal risk. The global hunt for Ruja Ignatova continues, as authorities and defrauded investors seek justice for one of the largest financial frauds in recent history.
