Four Years Ago, a Crypto Boss Went Missing. Now His Successor Has

> On June 29, two months after Zondacrypto’s website shut down, the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit revoked the license of its parent company. Zondacrypto has been the subject of speculation in both Poland’s Parliament and its news media over whether it was a legitimate company simply upended by bad bets on crypto, or a criminal enterprise that had been set up to launder money. Bitcoin has lost half its value since October. Prosecutors in Katowice have opened an investigation into the “circumstances surrounding the establishment and operation” of Zondacrypto. Perhaps the one person who could provide answers is Mr. Kral, who has not been seen in four months. There have been several unconfirmed sightings of him, in Israel, Botswana and Dubai. Mr. Nogacki, the lawyer representing the exchanges’s clients, thinks Mr. Kral is probably in Southeast Asia. But he says he is sure of only one thing about Zondacrypto: “It was a fraud from the first day.”

I want to live in that city!

In one picture, there is a rail line, a stadium, a casino, a leafy boulevard, some large sculptures, public transport (busses running in the early morning) and parking sports. Actual open parking spots! Even the park benches are nice. Not stupid anti-homeless structures but plain benches where people can actually sit comfortably. And the buildings, at least a half-dozen different styles in one photo. There are so many reasons why none of that is possible in north america.

This situation stinks from afar with a cover up operation of Polish, Israeli and perhaps some other intelligence agencies. How easily they dissappear people into thin air and to Monaco and Israel. For a moment Zonda was everywhere in Poland - from prime minister's t-shirt to many stadiums. I don't think criminals are capable of this, but Poland is a rotten state so who knows. Russia is such an easy explanation for politicians and public officials right now.

After the final failure Polish media announced instantly that "the boss is in Israel there's nothing that can be done". Polish prosecutor travelled informally to Middle East to meet him and... beg him to cooperate.

"Through a right-wing Polish TV station, it also partly financed a gathering last year in Poland of the Conservative Political Action Conference, an American organization close to Mr. Trump’s MAGA movement."

NYT can always find a way to present DJT in a bad light in any article with any context. This is another fine example.