The High Court in London has issued a global asset freeze order related to individuals involved in the OneCoin fraud, including Ruja Ignatova, known as the “crypto queen.”
According to the court order, Ignatova, OneCoin co-founder Sebastian Greenwood, and associates Christopher Hamilton and Robert MacDonald are implicated in laundering money for the fraudulent scheme. The freeze also affects the assets of four influencers who promoted OneCoin and several business entities that are alleged to have been used by Ignatova for money laundering and asset acquisition. OneCoin, launched in 2014, claimed to be a “Bitcoin killer,” but was revealed to be a Ponzi scheme with no real crypto network.
Ignatova, who defrauded investors of approximately $4 billion before disappearing in 2017, was last seen fleeing from Bulgaria to Athens. She remains on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Although she has been out of sight, a property advertisement in the United Kingdom in 2023 revealed her involvement when she was compelled to identify herself as the property owner due to new regulations.
A recent BBC report suggests that the list of properties may be more connected to German prosecutors rather than British authorities. The U.S. State Department is offering up to $5 million for information leading to Ignatova’s arrest.
