- Polish Olympic chief Radosław Piesiewicz was detained in the Zondacrypto investigation.
- Piesiewicz denies receiving a €40,000 watch as a gift, saying he paid for it himself.
- The sponsorship deal promised crypto bonuses to Winter Olympic medalists.
Polish Olympic Committee president Radosław Piesiewicz was detained Thursday, August 27, in an investigation involving Zondacrypto. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek confirmed the detention, with prosecutors examining suspected improper benefits involving the sports official. Media reports have linked the case to sponsorship arrangements and a €40,000 watch. The detention followed scrutiny of the exchange’s collapse and its relationship with Polish sports leaders.
Zondacrypto Probe Examines Watch and Sponsorship Claims
TVN24 and Wirtualna Polska reported that Zondacrypto chief Przemysław Kral provided a watch worth about €40,000. Piesiewicz denied receiving it as a gift and said he paid cash himself. The reports also alleged gifts were tied to promised help with regulatory problems. Investigators are assessing the reported benefits.
Żurek said the Silesian branch of the National Prosecutor’s Office was handling proceedings involving Piesiewicz. Further details would follow those proceedings, he said.
Investigators launched the broader inquiry in April, according to Euronews. Sports federations later called for his resignation.
Olympic Crypto Prizes Face Scrutiny After Exchange Collapse
Zondacrypto became the committee’s general sponsor in October 2025 under an agreement covering 2026 to 2028. The sponsorship deal included crypto bonuses for medalists at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
Reported payment problems left some athletes waiting for promised awards. The exchange stopped trading in April following a liquidity crisis.
The government estimates losses connected to Zondacrypto at 350 million zlotys, or about €80 million. Approximately 30,000 people were affected, according to Euronews. These figures cover platform losses, not an allegation of personal bribery against Piesiewicz.
The sponsorship agreement also included branding rights at the Olympic headquarters. Zondacrypto branding appeared on the committee’s building.
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