It’s good news! Good news! OneCoin has returned to the news and “The Missing Cryptoqueen” already released an 11th episode, proving that they’re back for real, we’re going to hit the accelerator. Starting today, we’ll summarize two episodes a week to catch up with the new developments in Dr. Ruja’s case. We hit the nail on the head on this one, and there’s nothing left to do but put the pedal to the metal and see where the OneCoin story takes us.
In this episode, we learn that OneCoin’s internal slogan was “the greatest company ever” and Jamie Bartlett travels to Sofia, Bulgaria, to look at Dr. Ruja’s properties. The episode does not contain any mafia-related insinuations. It deals with the cultic aspects of OneCoin’s entrepreneurial culture instead. We’re also able to put a number on how big of a scam OneCoin really was. Warning! It cost at least $4B.
Remember, you can download episodes Straight from the BBCYou can also call it: listen to “The Missing Cryptoqueen” through Apple, Spotify, or iVoox.
About OneCoin And “The Missing Cryptoqueen ’s” Episode Three
The most exciting thing about “The Missing Cryptoqueen” podcast is the sense of immediacy it conveys. It’s a living and breathing podcast. Jamie Bartlett was the main character in this story. The OneCoin people react to “The Missing Cryptoqueen’s” creation and, through social media, attack the creators with everything they have. This is all part of the podcast. The podcast’s third episode. In the end, they even ask for the audience to call and tip them about Dr. Ruja’s whereabouts or the OneCoin story.
This episode starts with Konstantin Ignatov, Dr. Ruja’s younger brother, personal assistant, and heir to the OneCoin crown. FBI agents arrested Konstantin Ignatov and brought him to trial for money laundering and fraud. OneCoin had been declared a fraud by the authorities. Surprisingly, when Bartlett and the team visit the OneCoin headquarters, they realize that the company is still “open for business.” People are still buying OneCoin despite the fact that one of their leaders is on the run and the other was arrested.
We are now able to see the cultlike nature of this operation. OneCoin’s leaders disappeared because of some faith. In the quote below, you will feel the silence while reading the description of the organization’s offices. You’ll feel the Dr. Ruja worship. It’s just one step away from religion and very near a cult. Experts in this field confirm the theory. Jamie Bartlett describes OneCoin as “less a cryptocurrency and more like a belief system.”
BTC price chart on Bitstamp for 10/20/2022. Source: BTC/USD tradingview.com| Source: BTC/USD on TradingView.com
Their Destruction
At one point we, once again, listen to Dr. Ruja’s own voice saying the crypto-scammer’s slogan. “To two years no one will talk about bitcoin.” If you ever hear that, run. In The second episode, we figured out that OneCoin called the critics “haters.” In this one, we learn that the investors and employees are instructed to keep away from them Scientology-style. Another surprising fact is that the second term OneCoin uses the most to describe its critics is “bitcoiner.” Those pesky bitcoiners, always causing trouble.
Hearing about OneCoin Victims Support Group reveals the extent of Dr. Ruja’s devastation. The victims are broken, they’ve lost everything and then some. Georgia Catt, producer, obtained a database/ report that revealed how large the scam was. From all over the world, the organization was getting €60M a week. From August 2014 to March 2017, OneCoin’s revenue was over €4B. Over €100M were from the UK alone. And that’s where the report stopped, the organization was still making money left and right.
Quotes From “The Missing Cryptoqueen ’s” Episode Three – “More Than Just A Coin”
OneCoin office described by anonymous witness:
“At its peak, it was about 50 people working in the Sofia office. Ruja’s office is on the 4th floor. Her gypsy earrings and dresses, as well as the jewellery, were always on display. Even when she’s just working in the office. The crypto center in the Sofia office is where OneLife members can meet important members of staff. If you are out of favor, they won’t let you in, or they’ll keep you sitting there the whole day, waiting.
It’s set up almost like a cathedral. You don’t speak out loud, you whisper to each other. It’s all set in dark tones, everything is gilded. Ruja’s face was made out of large cardboard. You see people touching it and doing that stupid OneCoin sign like it’s an icon. It’s gone now because it eventually fell apart because too many people were touching it. Dr. Ruja! Dr. Ruja! The biggest insult that you can give OneLife is to say: “that’s not Dr. Ruja’s vision.”
Timothy Curry (Bitcoin-enthusiast) describes Dr. Ruja’s cult personality:
“There were many cultish things that the company did. It was the repetition of indoctrination. You can see it in the dress and manner they show things off, especially the leaders. It’s almost as if they were performing ceremonial tasks onstage. Everything, from the musical introductions to Ruja, to the theatrics, they really did create a worship behind her.”
OneCoin Episode Credits and Material
OneCoin was conquering the world six years ago. NewsBTC quoted Roger Ver as the famous figure.The case was discussed. Then known as a “bitcoin evangelist,” the controversial figure denounced OneCoin for what it is:
“In a recent interview, the owner of Bitcoin.com says he believes OneCoin is a fraud, and that investors should always be wary of new coins and read up before they put their money in things they don’t understand:
“There is never a cryptocurrency without a wallet. It seems like this is more proof of the fraud nature. OneCoin isn’t traded on a single exchange anywhere in the world as far as I know.”
OneCoin has been around for over two years, but questions surrounding its authenticity continue to plague the Internet.”
Roger Ver was a great guy, no matter what your opinion may be.
And finally, the episode’s credits:
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Georgia Catt is the producer
Chris Berube is a story consultant
Editor: Philip Sellars
Phil Channell Original music and Sound Design
Dessislava Stephanova and The London Bulgarian Choir – Original music and voice recordings
Previous Companion Guides For BBC’s “The Missing Cryptoqueen” Podcast:
Ep. 01 – https://www.newsbtc.com/news/bitcoin/ep01-dr-ruja-companion-guide-for-bbcs-the-missing-cryptoqueen-podcast/
Ep. 02 – https://www.newsbtc.com/news/bitcoin/ep02-btc-killer-companion-guide-for-bbcs-the-missing-cryptoqueen-podcast/
Charts by TradingView| Charts by TradingView