Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we deep dive into OneCoin, a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme described as "one of the biggest scams in history". We explore how founders Ruja Ignatova and Sebastian Greenwood launched a massive Ponzi and pyramid scheme in 2014 that generated approximately $4 billion worldwide.

Tune in as we break down the mechanics of the scam, from the sale of "educational packages" containing plagiarized content to the revelation that OneCoin lacked a blockchain and had no actual mining process. We also track the dramatic legal aftermath, including the 2017 disappearance of Ignatova—who remains on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list—and the 20-year prison sentence handed down to co-founder Sebastian Greenwood in 2023.