Czechia: Bitcoin donation withdrawn over money laundering suspicions, facing 30 years imprisonment
Czech criminal Jirzikovsky has withdrawn a bitcoin donation made to the state, which prosecutors view as an attempt to launder funds from crime. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
Bitcoin donation withdrawn in Czechia: money laundering charges and fall of minister
As reported by RMF24, a Czech court is dealing with the case of Jirzikovsky — convicted of operating the Nucleus Market trading platform on the darknet from 2014–2016, where large-scale drug trafficking took place. The prosecution alleges that transferring bitcoins to the state was intended to launder cryptocurrency proceeds from crime. The man faces up to 30 years of imprisonment.
The then minister of justice Pavel Blažek agreed to accept cryptocurrency from the convicted criminal. The transfer of bitcoins raised questions about the origin of these funds and about the transparency and ethics of such a donation being accepted by a state institution. The bitcoin scandal cost Blažek his position and significantly contributed to the ruling coalition's loss in autumn 2025.
Czech civil code provides that a donor may withdraw from a donation agreement due to ingratitude if the recipient caused him harm intentionally or through gross negligence, violating good morals. "A donor, in accordance with the code, has the right to demand the return of the entire gift, and if that is not possible, then payment of its ordinary price," the code states.
The withdrawal of the donation has serious consequences for the state, which has already managed to use part of the funds acquired. The ministry has engaged an external law firm to analyse its liability and any potential claims related to this transaction.
Source: RMF24