Ruja Ignatova, a Bulgarian woman and mastermind behind the fraudulent cryptocurrency OneCoin, vanished in October 2017. Known for duping investors out of $4.5 billion, she disappeared after boarding a flight from Sofia to Athens. Since then, her whereabouts have been a mystery, sparking extensive investigations and speculation.

The Rise and Fall of OneCoin

Ignatova, a graduate from Oxford University, launched OneCoin in 2014, promising enormous returns similar to early Bitcoin investments. However, OneCoin was a scam, lacking the essential digital record found in legitimate cryptocurrencies. As authorities closed in, Ignatova fled, leaving millions of investors in the lurch.

For over a year, BBC’s Eye Investigations and Panorama have pursued leads to uncover Ignatova’s fate. Central to this investigation was identifying her close associates, particularly a notorious figure named Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis, alias Taki, a suspected Bulgarian organized crime boss.

Ties to Organized Crime

Richard Reinhardt, a former IRS investigator, revealed that Taki, a major drug trafficker, was allegedly responsible for Ignatova’s security. Taki’s involvement with Ignatova extends beyond protection, with Europol documents suggesting he used OneCoin’s network to launder drug money. The connection between Ignatova and Taki is further solidified by financial ties and personal relationships.

In 2022, a police report surfaced, alleging that Taki ordered Ignatova’s murder in late 2018. According to the report, her body was dismembered and disposed of at sea. Despite the gravity of these claims, the BBC has not independently verified them, and Ignatova’s body remains unfound.

A Complex Web of Deceit

The intricate relationship between Ignatova and Taki includes a land deal linking Ignatova’s companies to Taki’s wife. Multiple sources confirmed their close relationship, with Taki even being the godfather to Ignatova’s daughter. However, this bond may have ultimately led to her demise, as she became a liability to Taki’s criminal empire.

Since her disappearance, properties once owned by Ignatova are now used by individuals connected to Taki. Despite numerous sightings and tips about her possible whereabouts, the FBI continues to list Ignatova among their Ten Most Wanted. Her alleged murder, unconfirmed but widely speculated, adds to the enigma surrounding her fate.

The story of Ruja Ignatova, the missing Cryptoqueen, is a convoluted tale of deception, crime, and mystery. Whether she is alive or dead remains uncertain, but her legacy as one of the most infamous fraudsters in recent history endures. As investigations continue, the truth about her fate may one day come to light, ending one of the most intriguing manhunts of the modern era.