The Saga of the Cryptoqueen

The United Kingdom's High Court of Justice has issued a Worldwide Freezing Order against Ruja Ignatova, popularly known as the 'Cryptoqueen,' and several of her alleged accomplices in the OneCoin scheme.

The court order marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to bring justice to the victims of one of the largest cryptocurrency frauds in history.

More than 400 victims of the OneCoin collapse came together to petition the court to freeze the assets of Ignatova, OneCoin co-founder Sebastian Greenwood, Christopher Hamilton, and Robert MacDonald.

These individuals are alleged to have helped launder funds on behalf of OneCoin. Four influencers who advertised OneCoin to the public are also subject to this order.

Business entities that Ignatova allegedly used to launder funds from OneCoin and purchase assets have also been subjected to the worldwide asset freeze.

This comprehensive order aims to prevent further dissipation of the assets and to ensure that the victims might eventually receive some form of restitution.

The Disappearance and Search

Ruja Ignatova is alleged to have defrauded investors in an apparent $4 billion Ponzi scheme from the inception of Onecoin in 2014 until the fraudulent project's collapse in 2017 and her subsequent disappearance.

The Cryptoqueen was last seen in Athens, Greece, in 2017 and has not been seen since. Her disappearance has prompted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to place her on its Ten Most Wanted list.

In January 2024, the United States State Department began offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Ignatova. Despite this, alleged sightings of Ignatova remain elusive, and her whereabouts remain unknown.

'Her disappearance has prompted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to place her on their Ten Most Wanted list.'

OneCoin Accomplices Face Justice

Konstantin Ignatov, Ruja's brother, pleaded guilty to money laundering and fraud in 2019. The OneCoin accomplice faced a maximum sentence of 90 years behind bars for his role in the Ponzi scheme but was freed after three years and sentenced to time served after cooperating with US investigators. He testified against OneCoin lawyer Mark Scott in court.

2019, Scott was found guilty of bank fraud and money laundering charges. He received a much lighter sentence than the 17 years US prosecutors argued was appropriate.

OneCoin co-founder Karl Greenwood was also found guilty in 2023 and sentenced to 20 years for his role in the scheme. Greenwood was also forced to surrender the $300 million in payments he received from facilitating the OneCoin fraud.

This ruling is a significant victory for the victims of the OneCoin scheme who have been seeking justice for years. The Worldwide Freezing Order is critical in ensuring that those responsible for this massive fraud are held accountable and that the victims may finally see some restitution.