Key Highlights
- U.S. authorities are distributing over $40 million seized from the OneCoin operation to affected investors.
- OneCoin falsely marketed itself as a cryptocurrency despite lacking a real blockchain infrastructure.
- The compensation process is part of broader DOJ efforts to return funds through asset forfeiture programs.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a formal compensation claims process for victims of OneCoin, the fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme that defrauded investors of over $4 billion worldwide between 2014 and 2019.
In its April 13 announcement, the DOJ confirmed that more than $40 million in forfeited assets is now available for distribution to eligible victims through a formal remission claims process. Kroll Settlement Administration LLC has been appointed as the remission administrator. Importantly, filing a petition does not guarantee payment — victims must demonstrate a net loss after accounting for any prior withdrawals or recoveries.
How victims can file a claim
Victims can submit petitions through the official portal at onecoinremission.com or by calling 1-833-421-9748. The deadline is June 30, 2026.
The DOJ stressed the process is completely free and that no attorney is required. Officials warned victims to be wary of third parties posing as recovery services and demanding payment — a common follow-up scam targeting fraud victims.
A long-awaited recovery process
The scheme, planned by the co-founders of OneCoin Ltd., Ruja Ignatova, and Karl Sebastian Greenwood, defrauded investors of over $4 billion worldwide. OneCoin began operations in 2014 and was based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was marketed as a revolutionary cryptocurrency but ultimately turned out to be a fraudulent multi-level marketing operation with no real blockchain.
U.S. authorities pursued multiple prosecutions and seized assets linked to the scheme, enabling this partial recovery for victims.
Officials highlight victim focus
“Victims are at the core of everything we do at the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department pursues forfeiture to take the profit out of crime and then use that money to compensate victims wherever possible.”
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton added, “Today’s announcement marks an important step toward returning funds to those harmed. While no recovery can fully undo the damage, our Office will continue working to seize criminal proceeds.”
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, reiterated their commitment to tracking down remaining assets and holding those responsible accountable.
Ongoing investigation and warning
Co-Founder Karl Sebastian Greenwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023. More recently, OneCoin associate Irina Dilkinska was sentenced to four years in prison by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.
Co-Founder Ruja Ignatova — known globally as the “Cryptoqueen” — remains a fugitive and is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to her arrest. The criminal investigation was led by the FBI New York Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Officials also cautioned victims to remain vigilant against scams posing as recovery services.
While the recovered funds represent only a fraction of total losses, the compensation effort signals continued enforcement action in one of crypto’s most notorious fraud cases—and serves as a reminder of the risks tied to unverified digital asset projects.
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