Radosław Piesiewicz, president of the Polish Olympic Committee, was detained by Polish prosecutors on Thursday as part of a widening investigation into the cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto, according to statements from the country’s attorney general and reports by CoinDesk, Euro.news, TVN24 and Wirtualna Polska.
Prosecutors allege that Piesiewicz accepted bribes from Zondacrypto CEO Przemysław Kral, including a Patek Philippe watch worth approximately €40,000 ($46,000), in return for helping the exchange resolve regulatory problems. Piesiewicz has denied the allegations, saying he bought the watch himself with cash. The case is being handled by the Silesian Department of the National Prosecutor’s Office.
The arrest is part of a broader probe into Zondacrypto, which authorities estimate caused at least 350 million zloty ($95 million) in damages through suspected fraud and money laundering. Zondacrypto had previously signed a main sponsorship deal with the Polish Olympic Committee, and reports say Olympic medalists were set to receive prizes in crypto under the arrangement.
Zondacrypto collapsed in April after suffering a liquidity crisis. Earlier this year, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the crypto firm of having ties to the Russian mafia and secret service, and said Zondacrypto sponsored a CPAC event in Poland last year. Polish Sport and Tourism Minister Jakub Rutnicki said Piesiewicz had disgraced Polish Olympism and should never have led the committee.
The case highlights legal and reputational risks for crypto exchanges operating in Europe, especially those involved in high-profile sponsorships and public sector relationships.
