Polish police have detained additional individuals as part of an investigation into the collapse of leading cryptocurrency trading platform Zondacrypto. Among those recently detained is well-known Polish stock market trader Rafał Zaorski, who was taken to the National Public Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice on August 2. The investigation was launched on April 17 by the Katowice District Prosecutor’s Office over suspicions of large-scale fraud and money laundering.
Police from the provincial headquarters in the southern city of Katowice detained two people identified by the initials J.V. and A.P., while officers from the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime detained R.Z. The arrests were carried out on Wednesday at the prosecutors’ request, and authorities also ordered the seizure of luxury cars, jewelry, and a significant amount of cash.
Zaorski was previously linked to Sylwester Suszek, the missing founder of BitBay, the predecessor to Zondacrypto. The other two detainees are women, Jaromira V. and Anna P. Jaromira is the former wife of Marian V., also known as “Manek,” who is the main suspect in Suszek’s disappearance. Anna was his close associate.
The History of Zondacrypto’s Collapse
Zonda was the largest digital currency exchange on the Polish market before its collapse earlier this year due to liquidity problems, which led to the suspension of withdrawals. The cryptocurrency trading platform was launched as BitBay in Poland in 2014 by Sylwester Suszek, who also served as its CEO. The company was later sold, allegedly to a well-known Russian mafia group.
The company was later renamed Zondacrypto and moved its headquarters to Estonia, where it operated under a license held by BB Trade, a company registered in the Baltic state. It became one of the largest cryptocurrency trading hubs in Eastern Europe under the leadership of Przemysław Kral, who took over management in early 2021.
Suszek disappeared shortly afterward, and the new CEO accused him of failing to hand over the keys to a wallet containing 4,500 BTC. Kral himself disappeared after denying in mid-April this year that the exchange was in trouble. He was believed to have fled to Israel, where he is a citizen, and then to Dubai. According to Polish media reports, he ultimately agreed to help authorities investigate the case, which appears to be a scam that may have affected more than 30,000 Poles who lost at least $95 million.
Marian V., the man who introduced Kral to Suszek, is considered to have effectively run the company. He is also reportedly hiding in the United Arab Emirates.
The Political Scandal Surrounding Zonda
The investigation into Zondacrypto’s collapse has turned into a major political scandal, as Zonda’s management is accused of sponsoring conservative political events and figures to secure favorable cryptocurrency regulation. The “Crypto-Asset Market Act,” proposed by the centrist liberal government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, was vetoed twice by President Karol Nawrocki and is returning to parliament this week.
At a press conference, Poland’s Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek announced that the detainees may have information about the disappearance of Sylwester Suszek. This particularly applies to Rafał Zaorski, who is believed to have ties to the missing crypto entrepreneur and his digital asset trading company.
Rafał Zaorski: A Well-Known Trader and His Connections
Zaorski is a well-known Polish stock market speculator who gained popularity by publicly sharing the results of his investments, including profits and losses amounting to several million dollars. In April 2026, he was convicted of using insider information when trading shares of Merlin Group, a Warsaw-based e-commerce operator and retailer.
Previous arrests in the Zondacrypto case include the detention of the head of the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl), Radosław Piesiewicz, which was reported at the end of August. He was taken into custody for accepting an expensive gift from the crypto firm’s boss—a watch worth €40,000—in exchange for providing favorable treatment to Zonda’s sponsorship deals.
FAQ
What happened to the Zondacrypto crypto exchange?
Zonda was the largest digital currency exchange on the Polish market before its collapse earlier this year due to liquidity problems, which led to the suspension of withdrawals. The collapse affected more than 30,000 Poles who lost at least $95 million.
Who is Rafał Zaorski and why was he detained?
Zaorski is a well-known Polish stock market trader who was linked to Sylwester Suszek, the missing founder of BitBay, the predecessor to Zondacrypto. Poland’s Justice Minister said that the detainees, particularly Zaorski, may have information about Suszek’s disappearance and his digital assets.
What crimes are being investigated in the Zondacrypto case?
The investigation was launched on April 17 by the Katowice District Prosecutor’s Office over suspicions of large-scale fraud and money laundering. In addition, Zonda’s management is accused of sponsoring conservative political events and figures to secure favorable cryptocurrency regulation.
