A major bribery scandal involving $45 million in bitcoins has emerged in the Czech Republic, linked to the resignation of Justice Minister Pavel Blažek. Programmer Tomáš Jirikovský was arrested on suspicion of handing over the bribe.
Arrest of Tomáš Jirikovský
Czech police have arrested programmer Tomáš Jirikovský, founder of the darknet platform Sheep Marketplace, in a bribery case involving 468 BTC (worth about $45 million at the time of the transaction). According to the prosecutor's office, Jirikovský attempted to escape during the search by climbing onto the roof of a building but was detained and taken into custody. Local media claim he was the individual who handed over the bitcoins to the minister in an attempt to avoid another prison term.
Continued Darknet Investigation
In 2017, Jirikovský received a nine-year prison sentence for theft, drug trafficking, and illegal possession of weapons. He was released on parole in 2021. The investigation has also linked the bitcoin donation to another darknet marketplace called Nucleus, which holds 5,000 BTC and recently reactivated after a nine-year hiatus. In March 2025, a $77.5 million transaction from its wallet attracted the attention of analysts.
Transparency of Crypto Transactions
Experts note that despite privacy features for ordinary users, large cryptocurrency transfers linked to criminal activity are easily traceable on the blockchain. According to Lucien Bourdon, an analyst at Trezor, this highlights both the transparency of cryptocurrency transactions and the importance of accountability in financial systems.
The investigation is ongoing, ensuring the safety of defendants and witnesses in this case. No final charges have been brought against Jirikovský yet.
