Ruja Ignatova referred to herself because the Crypto Queen and he or she’s now again within the highlight, not less than type of, when information concerning the sale of a complicated London penthouse hogged the headlines.
Ignatova introduced her firm, OneCoin, as a worthwhile competitor to Bitcoin within the increasing cryptocurrency sector.
In June 2016, bitcoin was an rising pattern and buyers have been wanting to capitalize. In October of 2017, Ignatova utterly disappeared from public view.
That point, the 42-year previous Bulgarian-born German citizen crypto entrepreneur was within the preliminary levels of what would turn out to be a $4 billion Ponzi scheme.
OneCoin was a phony cryptocurrency, and its founder, Ignatova, has been lacking for 5 years and is presently on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list. She can be considered one of Europe’s most sought fugitives.
Picture credit score: YLE
Penthouse Sale Gave Crypto Queen Away
When an expensive London penthouse condo was marketed as on the market in the marketplace, it appeared that the “lacking crypto queen” was organizing a sale from underground.
In response to sources, a penthouse condo within the London district of Kensington, England, was posted on the market some days in the past for $15.5 million, then lowered to $13.6 million.
Senior prosecutor Gerald Ruebsam expects that the funds from the sale of the London penthouse could at some point be used to repay the victims of OneCoin.
He mentioned:
“It’s not clear but whether or not cash will go to OneCoin buyers, we’ve to attend and see how issues progress.”
Knight Frank, a Status seller of luxurious actual property, marketed the property however rapidly eliminated the itemizing when it was found that Ignatova had ties to it.
Investigative reporter Jamie Bartlett mentioned:
“It suggests she remains to be alive, and there are paperwork on the market someplace which include very important clues as to her latest whereabouts.”
‘Idiots’ And ‘Insane’
Ignatova and her enterprise associate Sebastian Greenwood deceived crypto followers by stating their cryptocurrency token OneCoin could be a “Bitcoin Killer.”
In 2016, when buyers clapped and whistled, she said, “In two years, no one will talk about Bitcoin anymore.”
OneCoin is likely one of the largest worldwide fraud schemes ever perpetrated, federal officers mentioned.
In an announcement, IRS Particular Agent John R. Tafur disclosed:
“The cryptocurrency OneCoin was established for the only objective of defrauding buyers.”
Ignatova and Greenwood started selling the fraudulent coin to potential buyers in 2014, promising a return of between fivefold and tenfold.
They referred to their buyers as “idiots” and “insane” at one level.
$100,000 Bounty For Crypto Queen
The Crypto Queen is now the one girl on the FBI’s Most Wished checklist.
Crypto complete market cap at $1 trillion on the weekend chart | Chart: TradingView.com
A observe seems on the backside of her FBI needed poster:
“Ignatova is believed to journey with armed guards and/or associates. Ignatova could have had cosmetic surgery or in any other case altered her look.”
Sebastian Greenwood, co-founder of OneCoin, pled responsible in New York to fraud and cash laundering prices in December 2022.
In the meantime, authorities are dangling a $100,000 reward for any data that might result in the arrest of the Crypto Queen.
Featured picture from The Telegraph
