For the past eight years, the disappearance of Ruja Ignatova, known as the “Cryptoqueen,” has puzzled the world. Ignatova, who vanished with billions after promoting the OneCoin Ponzi scheme, has left behind a trail of deception, legal battles, and an enduring mystery that captivates many.
Born in Bulgaria in May 1980, Ignatova moved to Germany as a child and excelled academically, earning a doctorate in private international law from the University of Konstanz. She briefly taught at the University of Oxford before embarking on a business career that would ultimately lead to infamy.
Before OneCoin, Ignatova was involved in a scam called BigCoin, which promised to rival Bitcoin but turned out to be a Ponzi scheme lacking any blockchain technology. In 2014, she co-founded OneCoin with Sebastian Greenwood, attracting billions in investments through persuasive marketing tactics.
OneCoin’s downfall came when authorities began to investigate the lack of blockchain technology behind the project. Ignatova disappeared in 2017, sparking numerous theories about her whereabouts. Some believe she met a grim fate, while others speculate that she is hiding in South Africa, Dubai, or even Russia.
German documentary filmmaker Johan von Mirbach, who directed “The Cryptoqueen – The Great OneCoin Fraud,” dismisses rumors of Ignatova’s demise. He believes she is still alive, given the numerous false leads about her location. The FBI placed her on their most wanted list in 2022, offering a substantial reward for her capture.
Legal proceedings against Ignatova continue, with a global freeze order issued on assets linked to her in 2024. Investigators have honed in on Cape Town, South Africa, and Russia as potential hiding spots. Journalist Yordan Tsalov suggests that Ignatova may have ties to the Russian government through her former security adviser, Frank Schneider.
Mirbach reflects on the scale of the OneCoin scam, noting that the cryptocurrency industry attracts both legitimate businesses and criminals seeking to exploit new opportunities. He anticipates the rise of AI-driven fraud schemes in the future, taking advantage of the digital landscape.
As the search for Ruja Ignatova continues, the mystery surrounding the “Cryptoqueen” endures, captivating those who seek to unravel the enigma of her disappearance.
