Polish authorities have established a dedicated team of prosecutors to handle the expanding investigation into the collapsed cryptocurrency platform Zondacrypto and individuals connected to its activities. The group, based at the National Public Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw, consists of seven members and is led by Prosecutor Marek Wełna.

Justice Minister and Prosecutor-General Waldemar Żurek announced the formation of the unit on Thursday. He stated that the team would assume responsibility for a multifaceted case involving suspected fraud, money laundering, financial and cryptocurrency transfers, as well as the disappearance of the exchange’s founder, Sylwester Suszek.

Suszek established BitBay, the platform that later operated as Zondacrypto. He has been missing since March 2022.

Origins and Scope of the Investigation

The District Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice initiated the probe on April 17, focusing on large-scale fraud and money laundering allegations. On July 30, that inquiry was combined with a separate National Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into Suszek’s disappearance.

Żurek indicated that prosecutors continue to gather new evidence and have not ruled out additional charges against individuals with political ties. He told one broadcaster that every new cooperating witness is providing fresh material for the case.

Speaking later to another outlet, Żurek did not exclude the possibility of seeking to lift parliamentary immunity for lawmakers if evidence warranted such a step. He stressed that prosecutors would require more than a single suspect’s testimony before taking that action.

When asked about the prospect of further arrests in October, Żurek assessed the likelihood at 98 percent.

Political Connections Under Scrutiny

One element of the case involves former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, a prominent figure in the Law and Justice governments that governed Poland from 2015 to 2023. Last month, Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented excerpts of testimony from the Zondacrypto inquiry in parliament.

According to the testimony cited by Tusk, a witness alleged that Ziobro had discussed intervening in matters related to the exchange if he returned to the justice ministry. The same account claimed that funds were to be channeled through a foundation linked to Ziobro’s political circle.

Ziobro has rejected any direct connection with former Zondacrypto chief Przemysław Kral, stating that he never spoke with him, including by telephone. He attributed a proposal for financial support from Kral for a foundation associated with him to a former Central Anti-Corruption Bureau officer, Artur Chodziński.

Żurek confirmed that the involvement of Ziobro and his wife forms an important part of the investigation. Prosecutors plan to examine the matter thoroughly before determining whether charges are appropriate.

Ziobro is currently in the United States and faces a separate Polish extradition request tied to alleged irregularities in the Justice Fund, which operated under the justice ministry during his tenure. Prosecutors submitted that request to US authorities in July. Żurek noted that a further request could be issued if the Zondacrypto case produces additional charges against him.

Detentions and Political Fallout

Several individuals have already been detained in connection with the Zondacrypto investigation. Among them is former Polish Olympic Committee president Radosław Piesiewicz. A court has also ordered pre-trial detention for a former police officer identified under privacy rules only as Artur K.

The case has extended into the political sphere. Law and Justice lawmaker Michał Moskal recently suspended his membership in the party’s parliamentary group after reports of a 2025 meeting in Ibiza involving Kral and Chodziński. Moskal stated that he spoke with Kral only once and denied that he or any foundation linked to him had entered into cooperation with Zondacrypto or received funds from the company.

Prosecutors continue to process incoming evidence as the special team begins its work on the combined inquiries.