Zondacrypto Head Przemyslaw Kral Becomes Cooperating Witness in 350 Million PLN Probe

Cooperating witness status and international talks

Przemyslaw Kral, the head and co-founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto, has agreed to cooperate with Polish prosecutors under Article 60 of the Polish Penal Code, securing the status of a cooperating witness (maly swiadek koronny). Negotiations between Kral and law enforcement unfolded over approximately six months, involving several unofficial meetings outside Poland in Persian Gulf states and Sicily, alongside discussions during his visits to Poland. Polish prosecutor Marek Welna travelled to a Persian Gulf state to meet Kral on neutral ground, beginning negotiations to obtain comprehensive testimony following reports that Kral had fled Poland. When asked about Welna's foreign delegation and the meetings, National Public Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Przemyslaw Nowak confirmed that Welna declined to comment, while the prosecutor's office did not issue a denial. Kral has since changed defense counsel and is delivering extensive depositions in Warsaw.

Scope of the Katowice fraud investigation

The criminal proceedings into the collapsed exchange date back to April 2026, when the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice launched an investigation into large-scale fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors stated that the exchange misled clients regarding the purchase and storage of fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies, leading to disadvantageous asset disposal. At the opening of the inquiry, investigators estimated total financial damages at no less than 350 million PLN. The investigation is also examining the reception, custody, and transfer of payment funds to determine whether these transactions were intended to conceal their illicit origins. The probe follows earlier turmoil at the company, including the 2022 disappearance of Sylwester Suszek, the original head of the platform.

Right-wing media funding and political ties

Kral's testimony reportedly outlines connections between the crypto platform and right-wing political figures, expanding the scope of individuals tied to the exchange's operations. The statements include descriptions of efforts to secure financing from Zondacrypto for right-wing media outlets, including Krzysztof Stanowski's Kanal Zero platform. Depositions also cover details regarding the sponsorship of the Polish Olympic Committee under the leadership of Radoslaw Piesiewicz. In addition, prosecutors are examining context around President Karol Nawrocki, who issued three separate vetoes against statutory legislation designed to introduce regulatory oversight for the cryptocurrency market in Poland.

Journalist Samuel Pereira described the emergence of the testimony as a coordinated political strategy by the governing coalition.

The state of Donald Tusk is beginning an operation of shifting responsibility in the Zondacrypto affair.

Legal distinctions and defense perspectives

The application of Article 60 differs from the full crown witness status granted under separate statutory provisions. Polish Bar Council president Przemyslaw Rosati noted that a full crown witness can obtain complete exemption from punishment and witness protection programs, whereas a cooperating witness under Article 60 receives no legal guarantee that the court will apply penalty mitigation. Attorney Tymoteusz Paprocki observed that securing cooperating status requires an admission of criminal culpability.

First of all, one must know that to become a crown witness, in the meaning of criminal law, one must be guilty of committing a crime.

Kral continues to give testimony to prosecutors in Warsaw as investigators assess the full paper trail of digital asset transfers, media sponsorships, and corporate records connected to the collapsed exchange.