U.S. Offers $5 Million Reward for Information on OneCoin’s “Cryptoqueen”

The OneCoin scheme’s creator, Ruja Ignatova, is wanted for her arrest and conviction; the U.S. Department of State is paying up to $5 million for information leading to her capture. Referred to as the “Cryptoqueen,” Ignatova is sought after due to her involvement in one of the biggest cryptocurrency scams ever.

OneCoin was developed in 2014 by German national Ruja Ignatova, who marketed it as a breakthrough cryptocurrency. Under the false pretense of maintaining a private blockchain, the project functioned as a multi-level marketing (MLM) network. There were almost 3.5 million individuals who fell prey to fraud, with losses totaling over $4 billion.

In a significant development, Irina Dilkinska, OneCoin’s “head of compliance,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to wire fraud and money laundering. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos sentenced Dilkinska to four years in prison for her involvement in the scheme.

The Search for Ignatova

Ignatova has been absent for more than seven years, leading to a great deal of conjecture over her whereabouts. According to a report published by the investigative journalism organization BIRD in Bulgaria, she could have been killed by Hristoforos “Taki” Amanatidis, a suspected drug kingpin. The BBC subsequently revealed that Amanatidis may have hired Ignatova as his head of security and used OneCoin’s banking network to laundere drug money, according to legal documents from the US authorities.

To help locate Ignatova, the FBI is asking for the public’s aid. Anyone with information can reach the FBI online at tips.fbi.gov, over Telegram (@RujaReward), or over Signal (@RujaReward.01). The closest US Embassy or Consulate can give information to those who are located outside of the country. Local FBI offices can also be contacted throughout the United States.