Ruja Ignatova, also known as the Cryptoqueen, has been evading authorities since the discovery of the international fraud operation involving OneCoin. Following the revelation of her indictment by the U.S. government in 2018, Ignatova vanished and boarded a flight to Athens.
The newly announced reward, significantly increased from the initial offer of $250,000 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) around 2022, reflects the gravity of the case. Investors were lured with promises of substantial returns on their investments and tokens in exchange for money.
However, the promised project did not exist on any blockchain or decentralized network. While Ignatova disappeared, others involved in the OneCoin scheme were apprehended and sentenced.
To this day, the whereabouts of the Cryptoqueen remain unknown. Speculation suggests that following her arrival in Athens, Ignatova may have undergone plastic surgery to alter her appearance.
There were reports in 2018 from Bulgarian media that Ignatova was harmed on a yacht by the local crime figure known as “Taki.” These claims, along with the speculation about plastic surgery, remain unverified.
Ignatova is facing charges in Bulgaria, Germany, India, and the U.S., including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and securities fraud. In her absence, Bulgarian authorities have sentenced her for her role in the multibillion-dollar crypto Ponzi scheme.