The Czech Republic’s National Centre Against Organized Crime (NCOZ) has intensified its investigation into a billion-crown bitcoin donation to the Ministry of Justice, detaining convicted drug dealer Tomáš Jiřikovský — the man behind the high-value crypto transfer.
The Chief State Prosecutor’s Office in Olomouc confirmed late Thursday that police had secured both individuals and property linked to the case.
The operation, including a raid at Jiřikovský’s Břeclav residence, forms part of a probe into the legalisation of proceeds from crime and the illegal handling of narcotics. Authorities say the bitcoin case was recently separated from a wider investigation to allow targeted prosecution. Oversight remains with the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which has restricted public details to avoid jeopardizing the inquiry.
Jiřikovský, who returned to the Czech Republic in July after a period in Asia, transferred the billion-crown bitcoin donation earlier this year. The cryptocurrency was accepted by then-Justice Minister Pavel Blažek, who resigned in June following mounting scrutiny.
An independent audit commissioned by Blažek’s successor, Eva Decroix, concluded that the ministry should not have accepted the bitcoin due to significant indicators that it may have originated from criminal activity. The first report by Grant Thornton, released in July, also noted potential criminal liability risks.
Decroix has pledged to publish a detailed timeline of the bitcoin affair containing over 8,000 entries. The scandal has triggered political fallout, with the opposition ANO party demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura over alleged involvement.
Authorities maintain that further updates on the bitcoin case will be provided once operational security permits, as the probe into the origins and criminal connections of the cryptocurrency donation continues.
In a parallel development, the Czech National Bank (CNB) has made its first foray into the crypto sector by purchasing over 51,000 shares of Coinbase Global, valued at more than $20 million. The investment marks the central bank’s first stake in a crypto-related company — a move that underscores growing institutional engagement with the bitcoin economy despite ongoing criminal probes in the sector.
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