Radosław Piesiewicz, president of the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl), was detained on August 27 as part of a widening investigation into fraud and money laundering connected to crypto platform Zondacrypto. Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek confirmed the arrest, capping months of mounting pressure on one of the most powerful figures in Polish sports.
The probe, which was formally opened on April 17, centers on Zondacrypto’s spectacularly short life as PKOl’s general sponsor. The platform signed on in October 2025, promising token-based rewards for athletes. Weeks later, it effectively stopped functioning, leaving thousands of customers with estimated losses as high as 2.4 billion zł, roughly €540 million.
The alleged kickbacks
Prosecutors allege Piesiewicz personally benefited from his relationship with Zondacrypto in ways that went well beyond a typical sponsorship handshake. Among the items flagged: a luxury watch valued at approximately €40,000, plus travel expenses and match tickets that brought the total alleged haul to somewhere between 190,000 and 216,000 zł, or around €40,000 to €45,000.
Piesiewicz has denied any wrongdoing. He claims the watch was purchased with his own money and has characterized the accusations as a politically motivated smear campaign.
