Prosecutors launch special team in $94M exchange probe

Authorities in Warsaw have assembled a seven-member special prosecutorial team to investigate the collapse of Zondacrypto, a failed digital asset exchange. The dedicated unit officially began its work on October 1, 2026, escalating a formal criminal inquiry that first opened in April.

The trading platform, which originally boasted 1.3 million registered users, has left an estimated 30,000 investors unable to access their portfolios. Law enforcement officials have already fielded over 3,600 formal complaints from alleged victims. Minimum client losses are estimated at 350 million złoty, roughly $94 million or €81.3 million to €82 million, though actual financial damages could climb as high as €560 million.

Complicating the recovery efforts, the exchange reportedly lost access to a cold wallet containing approximately 4,500 Bitcoin (BTC) in 2022. The platform's founder, Sylwester Suszek, has also been missing since March of that same year.

Tracking the Missing Funds

Investigators have made several high-profile arrests over the summer. A court approved pretrial detention on September 7, 2026, for a suspect identified as Roman Ż., making him the fifth individual taken into custody. Roman Ż. faces computer fraud charges tied to the misappropriation of at least 7.8 million złoty (approximately $2 million) in client funds. Authorities also linked him to nearly €8 million transferred for French property acquisitions and a falsely recorded €2.9 million loan.

Prosecutors have already secured over 100 million złoty in assets. This recovery effort includes ordering the freeze of a French bank account holding €4 million, which equates to more than 17 million złoty. On September 2, authorities detained three additional individuals, seizing cash, luxury cars, and jewelry.

Expanding the Investigation

The probe has also reached into the ranks of national organizations. On August 27, authorities detained Polish Olympic Committee President Radosław Piesiewicz. Investigators allege Piesiewicz received a Patek Philippe watch valued at €40,000 (roughly $46,605) from former Zondacrypto CEO Przemysław Kral. Piesiewicz denied the allegations, maintaining he purchased the luxury timepiece using his own funds and that Kral only assisted in facilitating the transaction.

According to Notes from Poland, prosecutors are also examining Zondacrypto's financing of individuals and organizations beyond the exchange itself, including the Polish Olympic Committee and figures linked to the right-wing opposition. Crypto Briefing reported that Polish investigators are coordinating with Estonian authorities as they trace and recover the missing client funds.

Justice Minister and Prosecutor-General Waldemar Żurek noted that the investigation remains highly active, estimating a "98 percent" likelihood of further arrests throughout October.

"Every new witness who wants to cooperate with prosecutors is really putting new evidence on the table," Żurek stated. "We want the court, and before that the parliament, which will be making the decisions, to have hard evidence on the table."