Crypto Scam's Elusive Figure: The Woman Behind OneCoin's $4 Billion Heist

The 'CryptoQueen' scandal has left millions of dollars in losses for investors worldwide.

Born in Bulgaria to German parents, she founded OneCoin Ltd. in 2014 as a rival to Bitcoin. The company promised revolutionary digital currency returns but turned out to be a pyramid scheme built on false promises and nonexistent blockchain technology.

The 'CryptoQueen' operated as the public face of OneCoin until late 2017, promoting the scheme at lavish events while directing proceeds into shell companies and personal accounts. A federal warrant was issued in October 2017, followed by a superseding indictment in February 2018.

Law enforcement continues to pursue leads on her finances, with Guernsey authorities enforcing a German forfeiture order in January 2026 to seize over $11 million in bank accounts tied to the scheme.