Polish Olympic chief charged in Zondacrypto probe

Detention of Polish Olympic Committee president

Polish prosecutors have charged Radosław Piesiewicz, the president of the Polish Olympic Committee, in connection with an investigation into the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto. Poland’s Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek confirmed the detention on X on Thursday.

Piesiewicz is the first person to be detained as part of this probe. The charges relate to allegations of influence peddling and favoring certain creditors while the exchange was facing insolvency.

Allegations of preferential treatment

According to local news outlet TVP World, the allegations suggest that Piesiewicz recovered all the money he had invested through Zondacrypto. This occurred while thousands of other customers were unable to withdraw their funds from the exchange.

Zondacrypto became a general sponsor of the Polish Olympic Committee in October 2025, just months before it halted operations.

Background on the collapse

Zondacrypto stopped trading in April amid a liquidity crisis. At around the same time, former CEO Przemysław Kral revealed that the exchange could not access a wallet holding approximately 4,500 Bitcoin because it did not have the private keys. A private key is like a digital password needed to access and move funds stored in a crypto wallet.

Kral has reportedly been charged with participating in large-scale fraud. He is currently cooperating with investigators in an effort to receive a reduced sentence.

• Radosław Piesiewicz, head of the Polish Olympic Committee, was detained and charged.
• Prosecutors allege he engaged in influence peddling and favored some creditors over others.
• Reports claim Piesiewicz recovered his full investment while other users lost access to their funds.
• Zondacrypto collapsed in April, locking out customers and hiding 4,500 Bitcoin in an inaccessible wallet.
• Former CEO Przemysław Kral is charged with fraud and cooperating with authorities.

Official details from Justice Minister

Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek announced the charges under two provisions of Poland’s Penal Code. The specific allegations involve the misuse of influence and preferential treatment during the exchange's insolvency proceedings.

What remains unclear

It is still unconfirmed whether any other Olympic Committee officials or employees are under investigation. The full details of how Piesiewicz’s funds were prioritized over other customers have not been publicly released by prosecutors.

Why this matters

The case highlights the growing scrutiny of ties between traditional sports organizations and cryptocurrency exchanges after several high-profile collapses. It raises questions about due diligence when crypto companies sponsor major sporting bodies.

Sources

• Cointelegraph