Poland: Three New Arrests in the Zondacrypto Scandal

Poland faces a new stage in the Zondacrypto case, following three arrests decided Wednesday by the authorities. The investigation concerns the collapse of this major platform, marked by the halt of withdrawals and heavy losses for users. Among those detained is trader Rafał Zaorski, known in the financial world. The investigations also examine suspicions of fraud, money laundering, and links with several actors in the national political scene.

Three arrests that reignite the investigation in Poland

Law enforcement arrested three new people as part of the criminal investigation into the collapse of Zondacrypto. The provincial police of Katowice detained two suspects, identified by the initials JW and AP. At the same time, the Central Bureau for Combating cybercrime arrested RZ, according to the general prosecutor’s office cited by the economic news portal Money.pl. These operations show that investigators are now expanding their search around individuals linked to the case.

The arrests occurred at the request of the prosecutor’s office, which also ordered several seizures. Authorities targeted luxury vehicles, valuable objects, and a significant sum of money. These measures come as the case gathers several leads on the platform’s management and relationships among the protagonists. They notably concern several people already mentioned in the investigations.

Polish media identified JW and AP as Jaromira W. and Anna P. Jaromira W. is the former wife of Marian W., nicknamed “Maniek,” and is presented as a central suspect in the disappearance of Sylwester Suszek. Anna P., on the other hand, reportedly worked closely with Marian W. Their arrests therefore add two new names to a case already marked by several disappearances and questions.

Rafał Zaorski at the heart of the new judicial chapter

Rafał Zaorski was also taken to the national prosecutor’s office in Katowice on August 2. Journalists present saw him enter the premises under escort. “I am a victim,” he declared before entering the building, without providing further details. His arrest draws attention because of his links mentioned with Sylwester Suszek and his activity in the digital assets sector.

Zaorski is among the most well-known Polish stock investors. He became known by publishing the results of his financial operations, including gains and losses of several million dollars. In April 2026, he was found guilty of using insider information during transactions on Merlin’s shares.

Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek indicated that the arrested individuals in the Zondacrypto case might hold information about Suszek. This lead notably concerns Zaorski, linked to the missing entrepreneur and his digital asset trading company. Authorities seek to clarify the relationships between the case’s actors and each one’s exact role.

From BitBay to Zondacrypto, a decline linked to liquidity

The story of Zondacrypto dates back to the launch of BitBay in Poland in 2014. Sylwester Suszek created the platform and also served as CEO before selling it to a Russian mafia group, according to some local reports relayed by Cryptopolitan. BitBay then changed its name to become Zondacrypto. The company then moved its headquarters to Estonia and continued its activities under a license obtained by BB Trade, an entity registered in this Baltic country.

Under the leadership of Przemysław Kral, who took charge in early 2021, Zondacrypto became one of the leading trading platforms in Eastern Europe. Suszek then disappeared, while Kral accused him in a video published on X of never handing over the keys to a wallet containing 4,500 BTC. Later, Kral himself disappeared after denying in mid-April 2026 that the platform was facing difficulties. Media estimate he would have gone to Israel, then Dubai.

The collapse of Zondacrypto began after liquidity problems caused the halt of withdrawals. The investigation opened on April 17 by the Katowice prosecutor’s office involves suspicions of large-scale fraud and money laundering. According to Polish media, Kral finally agreed to assist authorities in understanding the case. The affair may have affected over 30,000 users and caused at least 95 million dollars in losses.

A political dimension that widens the scandal

The Zondacrypto case now goes beyond just a financial issue. The platform’s leaders allegedly sponsored events and conservative political figures to obtain favorable cryptocurrency regulations. This political dimension adds a new angle to investigations in Poland. It comes as the legal framework for digital assets remains at the center of debates.

The centrist and liberal government of Donald Tusk proposed a law on the crypto-assets market. President Karol Nawrocki however blocked it twice by veto. The bill returns this week before Parliament while the Zondacrypto investigation continues to progress. In Poland, the political context thus adds further significance to the questions raised by the links between private actors and public officials.

Other arrests have already marked the case. At the end of August, authorities notably placed Radosław Piesiewicz in custody, president of the Polish Olympic Committee. He is suspected of accepting a watch worth 40,000 euros given by the Zondacrypto leader. This gift allegedly secured favorable treatment in the platform’s sponsorship agreements.

The new series of arrests thus maintains judicial pressure around Zondacrypto. In Poland, investigators still need to clarify the role of the arrested individuals and the exact circumstances of the collapse. The investigations will also have to determine the extent of the losses and any possible links between the financial, crypto, and political dimensions. The next stage will depend on the information collected by the authorities and their use in the procedure.