Poles: Zondacrypto Clients Responsible for Their Own Losses, Poll Finds

A recent poll conducted by IBRiS for Rzeczpospolita unequivocally demonstrates that the prevailing sentiment among Poles regarding the Zondacrypto affair is one of personal responsibility. The findings are stark: the public largely believes that those who invested in the cryptocurrency exchange and subsequently lost their funds are the ones to blame, not the state.

“

The results of the survey are quite unambiguous and directly indicate that investors should know the risks. This is a fundamentally consistent position across all social groups, regardless of age, education, or political affiliation. The risk here was known and large, and the motive for action was the desire for quick profit, which compensated for the danger of losing funds.

This view transcends political divides, with a significant majority across different voter groups expressing reluctance to see taxpayer money used for bailouts. While supporters of the current government exhibit a slightly stronger opposition to state intervention (91%) compared to opposition supporters (77%), the core message remains consistent. As Professor Krzysztof Koźmiński of the University of Warsaw notes, the risks associated with such speculative ventures were known and substantial, driven by a desire for quick profits that overshadowed the potential for loss.

“

The risk is factored in, and the responsibility lies primarily with private entities.

This public consensus aligns with the foundational principles of Poland's social market economy, as enshrined in Article 20 of the constitution. This model champions a free market where state bodies and officials refrain from intervening in every financial transaction, allowing for broad spheres of spontaneous and free citizen decisions. Risk is an inherent part of this system, and the primary responsibility rests with private entities. Unlike past situations, such as the Amber Gold scandal or the plight of 'Frankowiczs' (Polish borrowers with Swiss franc-denominated mortgages), where public sympathy leaned towards perceived victims misled by the system, the Zondacrypto case is viewed differently. The public perceives these investors not as victims, but as individuals who knowingly took significant risks.

“

The greater willingness of Poles to grant some form of state protection to 'Frankowiczs' or Amber Gold clients stems from the fact that they were perceived as victims who were misled, deceived.