Zondacrypto Affair: Prosecutors Provide New Information on Investigation

Regional prosecutors in Katowice, Poland, have released updated information regarding the Zondacrypto investigation, a probe that has been active for several months. The investigation, which commenced on April 17 and has been extended until January 2027, is examining allegations of significant fraud and money laundering. Thousands of complaints have been filed by individuals affected by the cryptocurrency exchange's operations.

“

The Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice has conducted an inspection of internet messengers, including records of correspondence conducted on Telegram and Slack between Zondacrypto employees.

As part of the ongoing inquiry, investigators have scrutinized internet communications, including correspondence on Telegram and Slack among Zondacrypto employees. A specialized institution has been consulted to provide an expert opinion on the exchange's financial and economic standing. Crucially, a bank account held in a French branch, containing 4 million euros (over 17.3 million Polish zloty), has been blocked. This sum originated from a transaction involving the transfer of ownership of a company registered in Monaco, whose shareholders are individuals suspected in the Zondacrypto case.

Prosecutors suspect this transaction is part of a money laundering scheme involving illicit funds derived from crimes committed against Zondacrypto's clients. A judge at the Paris Court of Appeal, invoking European Union regulations on mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders, has mandated the seizure of these funds and their retention in a deposit account managed by French judicial authorities.

“

A decision was made to block a bank account held in a French branch, to which a sum of 4 million euros (over 17.3 million PLN) was transferred, originating from a transaction of ownership transfer registered in Monaco, in which shareholders are persons suspected in the Zondacrypto investigation.

Earlier stages of the investigation involved securing electronic equipment and over 250 terabytes of data from Zondacrypto's production servers across Poland. A joint Polish-Estonian investigative team was formed in May, given that the zondacrypto.com service operator is the Estonian company BB Trade Estonia OU. The Estonian financial intelligence unit partially suspended the company's operating license, prohibiting it from accepting additional assets. Polish prosecutors are also coordinating with judicial representatives in Monaco, where Zondacrypto's president, Przemysław Kral, reportedly resides. Recent reports indicate Kral may be in the Middle East, and Polish authorities have reportedly met with him in a Gulf state.

“

A judge of the Court of Appeal in Paris, taking into account the provisions of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mutual recognition of freezing orders and confiscation orders, ordered the seizure of these monetary funds and their retention in a deposit account of the French judicial authorities.