Ruja Ignatova, infamously dubbed the “Cryptoqueen” for orchestrating the OneCoin scam, is reportedly alive and residing in Cape Town, according to a German documentary.
Story Summary:
- Ruja Ignatova, the mastermind behind the OneCoin Ponzi scheme, is reportedly hiding in Cape Town, South Africa.
- A German documentary debunks claims of her death and highlights links to South Africa, including her brother’s visits.
- Ignatova’s $4 billion scam has led to convictions of close associates, while she remains on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.
Is Ruja Ignatova hiding in Cape Town?
The claim follows years of speculation about her fate since her disappearance in 2017, with rumours ranging from a mafia murder to sightings in Europe and Asia.
The new allegation arises from filmmaker Johan von Mirbach, who says South African security agents tipped him off about Ignatova’s presence in Cape Town.
Investigations into the murders of four Bulgarians with ties to Ignatova’s crime network reportedly led to this revelation.
Ignatova is said to have been seen in the company of Bulgarian nationals, sparking renewed interest in her whereabouts.
Despite previous claims that she was killed by a Bulgarian mob boss, German authorities and other experts have debunked these theories.
One major contradiction is that the alleged hitman was incarcerated in the Netherlands at the time of her supposed death.
Sabine Dässel, a spokesperson for the Düsseldorf State Criminal Police Office, stated that there is “no evidence” of her death.
Additionally, no mourning was observed among her family and close associates following her alleged demise.
Unravelling Ignatova’s rise to crypto queendom
Ignatova launched OneCoin in 2014, promoting it as the next Bitcoin. By leveraging her credentials, including a purported PhD, and charismatic presentations, she amassed an estimated $4 billion from investors worldwide.
However, OneCoin was a sham, with no blockchain or real cryptocurrency backing its promises.
After authorities began closing in on the operation in 2017, Ignatova fled her home in Bulgaria, leaving behind a trail of financial devastation.
Her brother, Konstantin Ignatov, took over the OneCoin empire but was arrested in 2019.
He later cooperated with US prosecutors, providing insight into the criminal enterprise.
The FBI placed Ignatova on its Ten Most Wanted list in 2022 and offered a $5 million reward for information leading to her capture.
Close associates, including co-founder Karl Sebastian Greenwood and attorney Mark Scott, have since been convicted and sentenced.
Greenwood received 20 years in prison, while Scott is serving 10 years for laundering $400 million.
While the mystery around Ignatova’s whereabouts deepens, South African connections are coming into focus.
Her brother documented trips to the country, and another associate, Duncan Arthur, holds dual South African citizenship.
Arthur has reportedly worked extensively in financial compliance in the region.
