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OneCoin Fraud Victims Get $40M DOJ Compensation

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By William Surberg
Published at Apr 14, 2026 at 11:04
Updated at Apr 14, 2026 at 11:043 min read
OneCoin Fraud Victims Get $40M DOJ Compensation

The U.S. Department of Justice officially opened the remission compensation process for OneCoin fraud victims on April 13, 2026. Over $40 million in forfeited assets are now available for distribution. Victims who purchased the fraudulent cryptocurrency between 2014 and 2019 may qualify.

The scheme ran for five years. OneCoin co-founders Ruja Ignatova and Karl Sebastian Greenwood built a global multi-level-marketing operation out of Sofia, Bulgaria. Investors from around the world lost more than $4 billion, according to the Justice Department.

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The Biggest Crypto Lie Ever Sold

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York described OneCoin as "a lie disguised as cryptocurrency." His office confirmed funds recovered through asset forfeiture will go directly back to victims. No amount can undo the full damage, Clayton acknowledged. But the process marks a concrete step.

Petition forms are available at www.onecoinremission.com. Victims can also call 1-833-421-9748 or write to the Remission Administrator. The filing deadline is June 30, 2026. Kroll Settlement Administration LLC manages the process.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said the Department "pursues forfeiture to take the profit out of crime" and then directs recovered funds to victims. He credited prosecutors in the Southern District of New York and the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section.

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Ruja Ignatova Remains a Fugitive

The FBI has not located Ruja Ignatova. She remains on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI New York Field Office said many victims "unknowingly depleted their savings" based on falsified promises. The FBI continues its pursuit.

Anyone with information can submit tips at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. The criminal investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided additional support.

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan said investigators "worked tirelessly to trace illicit funds." She called the compensation process "a critical step toward returning stolen assets." Since 2000, the DOJ's asset forfeiture program has returned more than $12.5 billion to crime victims.

Neither the DOJ nor the Remission Administrator will request any payment from victims to participate. The Department warned against individuals or organizations falsely claiming to represent either body. The FBI has previously issued advisories on government impersonation scams targeting fraud victims. Victims should only act on communication from the Remission Administrator or verified government contacts.

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Several OneCoin-related prosecutions were filed in the Southern District of New York. Key figures in the scheme have been sentenced. Criminal forfeiture of proceeds from the fraud followed those convictions, producing the $40M+ now available.

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