Was 'Crypto Queen' Ruja Ignatova Murdered By A Bulgarian Crime Head?

The founder of the infamous OneCoin scam Ruja Ignatova, missing and presumed dead for several years, had extensive ties to high-profile organized crime figures, according to a new BBC report.

What Happened: The BBC’s investigation revealed that Ignatova had close ties with Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis, also known as Taki, a major Bulgarian crime figure. Richard Reinhardt, a former IRS investigator, stated that Taki was responsible for Ignatova’s security.

Leaked Europol documents seen by the BBC indicated that Bulgarian police had connected Ignatova to Taki before her disappearance. Taki is suspected of using OneCoin's network to launder drug trafficking proceeds.

In 2022, Bulgarian journalist Dimitar Stoyanov received a police report suggesting Ignatova was murdered on Taki's orders in late 2018. The report claimed her body was dismembered and dumped in the Ionian Sea.

Despite these allegations, Ignatova's body has never been found, and Taki has not been arrested. The FBI still lists Ignatova on its Ten Most Wanted list, indicating the lack of definitive proof of her death.

Also Read: How Crypto Scammers Made $32 Million By Turning Their Victims’ FOMO Against Them

Why It Matters: The disappearance of Ruja Ignatova has been a significant event in the cryptocurrency world. Ignatova, known as the "Cryptoqueen," was the mastermind behind the OneCoin scam, which defrauded investors of billions of dollars. The case has drawn attention to the risks and vulnerabilities in the cryptocurrency market.

OneCoin, promoted as a revolutionary cryptocurrency, was later revealed to be a Ponzi scheme. The scam’s magnitude and the involvement of organized crime have highlighted the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the cryptocurrency industry.

It was known in February 2023 that Ignatova was presumably killed on the orders of a drug lord aboard his yacht, though definitive proof was never found.

What’s Next: The influence of Bitcoin as an institutional asset class is expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzinga’s upcoming Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19.

Read Next: Swiping Right On Dating Apps Is Landing Canadians In Major Crypto Scams

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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