Polish Olympic Chief Charged in Zondacrypto Bribery Probe

Zondacrypto became the Polish Olympic Committee’s main sponsor in autumn 2025 and promised cryptocurrency bonuses to Polish medalists at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The platform halted payments and collapsed in April 2026 after a liquidity crisis, leaving estimated losses of 350 million zlotys (€81 million) and about 30,000 victims. The case has sharpened scrutiny of crypto-funded sports sponsorships and the ties between digital-asset firms, sports officials and political power.

Polish cybercrime police detained PKOl President Radosław Piesiewicz in Warsaw on Aug. 27, 2026, searched his home and transferred him to the National Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice. Prosecutors later charged him with influence peddling and favoring certain creditors before insolvency. They allege he received a €40,000 watch from Zondacrypto chief Przemysław Kral in return for promising intervention with former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and competition watchdog UOKiK, and recovered all his invested capital before the collapse. Piesiewicz denies taking a bribe, saying he repaid Kral for the watch in installments.