UK court strikes assets of cryptocurrency queen Ruja Ignatova

Much has already been said about Ruzha Ignatova and the OneCoin case - this story is likely to become the biggest scam in the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies and one of the biggest financial frauds of all time. Every police force in the world is still searching for the mastermind behind this operation, known as the cryptocurrency kingpin. We will not be surprised if one day a TV series will appear on the screens, revealing the incredible details of this truly amazing story. While we wonder whether Ruja Ignatova is alive, has changed her appearance or is hiding in a country where she cannot be extradited, British justice is in action. The UK High Court recently issued an international warrant to freeze her assets.

The saga of the fraudulent scheme continues

In 2017, along with Ruja Ignatova, at least $4 billion disappeared with the help of a Ponzi scheme - an event that will forever go down in cryptocurrency history as one of the most amazing scams. But it's not just about the money: the disappearance of the main culprit has given rise to many rumours. After her inclusion on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, Ruja became a symbol of international crime.

There were rumours that she was seen in Greece in 2017, but this was never confirmed. In January 2024, the U.S. State Department offered a $5 million reward for any information that would help her arrest and conviction. Despite the best efforts and capabilities of the U.S., it has not yet been possible to find her. Some speculate that she may be dead. The FBI is still actively searching for Ruja Ignatova, her whereabouts remain a mystery, and the British courts have ordered an international freeze on her assets.

UK court issues asset freezing order

While several associates of Ruja Ignatova are on trial, the UK High Court recently granted a request from nearly 400 victims of the OneCoin collapse to freeze her assets. The decision, made on 7 August 2024, was a victory for the plaintiffs who sought this worldwide WFO freezing order. The order does not only concern the founder of OneCoin: co-founder Sebastian Greenwood, as well as Christopher Hamilton and Robert McDonald, who are suspected of money laundering, are also mentioned in the document. In addition, four people who actively promoted OneCoin to the public also came under the freeze.

Commercial entities that Ruja Ignatova allegedly used to launder funds and acquire assets also came under the global asset freeze. While this is unlikely to speed things up much, we can now be sure that no one will be able to use the money while we await the conclusion of this complex case that has attracted the attention of more than 25 countries. The mystery of the cryptocurrency queen remains unsolved, with rumours suggesting that she may have had plastic surgery to hide from the FBI and the world's police. Could this be true? We'll just have to wait for answers.