Polish Olympic Chief Detained Over Alleged Links to Collapsed Crypto Exchange
Polish Olympic Committee president Radosław Piesiewicz was detained on August 27, 2026, in connection with the collapse of crypto exchange Zondacrypto. The exchange's main Bitcoin hot wallet had seen a significant decline in activity, from an average of 55.7 BTC per month in August 2024 to just 0.18 BTC in March 2026.
Prosecutors allege that Piesiewicz accepted a €40,000 watch worth PLN 172,000 from Zondacrypto's former chief Przemysław Kral, as well as trips and hotel stays. The Olympic Committee promised token bonuses to athletes who finished fourth to eighth at the Winter Olympics in Italy but failed to deliver them.
The case has sparked widespread outrage among Polish sports federations, with 52 calling for Piesiewicz's resignation and 82 of 106 PKOl members asking for a general assembly. Zondacrypto collapsed in April 2026, causing over PLN 350 million in damages and leaving thousands of investors with lost savings.
The detention is seen as a major step forward in the investigation into the collapse, which has been joined by authorities from Estonia and France. Authorities have secured over PLN 100 million for possible customer compensation.