President Karol Nawrocki has blamed the Polish government for attempting to deflect responsibility for failures in regulating the cryptocurrency market following the Zondacrypto affair.
President Nawrocki Rejects Government’s Claims
President Karol Nawrocki strongly refuted accusations from the government regarding the Zondacrypto scandal, asserting that authorities are attempting to shift blame for the lack of oversight in the cryptocurrency market.
“The government will not cover up its incompetence and helplessness with lies,” he stated, referencing specific dates of actions taken by security services and his own decisions.
Veto and Timing of ABW Information
Karol Nawrocki addressed criticisms concerning his veto of the crypto asset market act. He emphasized that the first communication from the Internal Security Agency regarding the cryptocurrency market reached the Presidential Chancellery only on December 12, 2025 – eleven days after his veto on November 7th and seven days after a secret parliamentary session.
“To be clear: the first letter from ABW arrived at the Presidential Chancellery on December 12th, which was already after my veto decision,” the President pointed out, stressing he could not have based his decision on information that emerged later.
Government Manipulation and Neglect
Nawrocki accused the government of attempting to manipulate facts and divert attention from its own negligence. He believes the lack of effective supervision over the cryptocurrency market is a problem for which government institutions, not the President, are responsible.
“Hold yourselves accountable, not the opposition,” he appealed, highlighting the political dimension of the dispute.
Legislative Impasse Over Crypto Regulation
The President’s veto of the act on November 7, 2025, became a central point of conflict between the Presidential Palace and the government. The proposed legislation aimed to regulate the cryptocurrency market in Poland and align national regulations with EU standards.
Karol Nawrocki vetoed the law on December 1st, and the Sejm attempted to override his decision a few days later on December 5th. However, the ruling coalition failed to secure the required majority. Despite this, the government did not abandon the project, adopting an almost identical version on December 9th, which the Sejm approved on December 18th.
Further attempts to override the veto were unsuccessful. In May, coalition MPs again failed to gather enough votes. As a result, Poland remains without comprehensive regulations regarding the crypto asset market, which, according to experts, encourages loopholes exploited by dishonest entities.
Russian Connections to Zondacrypto
The Zondacrypto case has taken on a new dimension with the emergence of information about possible links to the Russian Tambov mafia. According to intelligence services and media reports, the group allegedly took control of the exchange, indicating potential international threats.
The Tambov mafia has long been considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations originating from Russia, linked to political elites associated with Vladimir Putin. Its potential involvement in the activities of a cryptocurrency exchange would mean using modern financial instruments for criminal operations.
Investigation and Client Losses
The Katowice prosecutor’s office is leading the investigation, with activities covering Silesia and other regions of Poland. Available data indicates that tens of thousands of platform clients have suffered losses.
Zondacrypto’s Origins and Sylwester Suszek’s Disappearance
Zondacrypto is a continuation of the BitBay exchange, one of the first platforms of its kind in Poland. Its founder, Sylwester Suszek, built a significant business quickly, capitalizing on growing interest in cryptocurrencies.
Suszek disappeared in unexplained circumstances in 2022. After his disappearance, Przemysław Kral, previously associated with the company as a lawyer, took over management. He was responsible for moving the business to Estonia, which was intended to allow it to operate in a more favorable legal environment.
According to media reports, Kral has left Poland and is currently in Israel. Changes in ownership structure and the relocation of the business, however, did not prevent the problems that are now the subject of investigation.
