Ruja Ignatova, infamously known as the “Cryptoqueen,” is the founder of OneCoin, a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme that defrauded over $4 billion from investors worldwide. Despite being one of the most infamous figures in the crypto world, her whereabouts have remained a mystery since her disappearance in 2017.
The OneCoin Scam: A $4 Billion Deception
OneCoin operated from 2014 to 2017, luring over 3.5 million victims with promises of high returns and claims of being a cryptocurrency superior to Bitcoin. The scheme gained traction through extravagant events designed to attract new investors and encourage existing participants to recruit others.
The fallout from OneCoin led to widespread global attention, spawning documentaries and films to expose the scam’s scale. Among them is the upcoming movie Fake!, starring Oscar-winner Kate Winslet, who will portray Jen McAdam, a victim of the scheme who lost $300,000.
The Hunt for Ignatova
Ignatova has been on the run since 2017, last seen in Greece. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has placed her on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to her arrest.
Recent investigations suggest she may be hiding in the affluent suburb of Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa. Her brother, Konstantin Ignatov, was also linked to the city before his arrest in 2019. Ignatov, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges and cooperated with U.S. prosecutors, described his involvement in OneCoin as “the biggest mistake of his life” but did not reveal his sister’s location.
A Darker Theory: Murder and Cover-Up
Some speculate that Ignatova may never be found, citing theories that she was murdered in 2018. Bulgarian media outlets claim she was killed at the behest of Hristoforos Amanatidis, also known as “Taki,” a notorious drug lord with ties to OneCoin. Reports allege that her body was dismembered and disposed of in the Ionian Sea.
“Taki” is said to lead a major organized crime group in Eastern Europe and operates remotely due to political conflicts in Bulgaria. His alleged connection to Ignatova’s disappearance raises questions about whether her death was an attempt to silence her involvement in the OneCoin scandal.
Conclusion
Ruja Ignatova’s story is a chilling reminder of the dark side of cryptocurrency. While law enforcement agencies continue their search, theories about her fate whether hiding in luxury or lying at the bottom of the sea leave many unanswered questions about the full extent of the OneCoin scam and its mastermind’s ultimate fate.
