Ep03- OneCoin – Companion Guide For BBC’s “The Missing Cryptoqueen” Podcast

Good information! Since OneCoin is again on the information and “The Missing Cryptoqueen” already launched an eleventh episode, proving that they’re again for actual, we’re going to double down on our efforts. Starting right now, we’ll summarize two episodes every week to meet up with the brand new developments in Dr. Ruja’s case. We hit the nail on the pinnacle on this one, and there’s nothing left to do however let the roulette roll and see the place the OneCoin story takes us.

In this episode, we be taught that OneCoin’s inside slogan was “the best firm ever” and Jamie Bartlett travels to Sofia, Bulgaria, to have a look at Dr. Ruja’s properties. This episode is freed from mafia insinuations, it offers with the cultic elements of OneCoin’s entrepreneurial tradition as an alternative. We’re additionally in a position to put a quantity on how large of a rip-off OneCoin actually was. SPOILER ALERT: It was a minimum of €4B large.

Remember, you may obtain episodes immediately from the BBC, or hearken to “The Missing Cryptoqueen” by way of Apple, Spotify, or iVoox.

About OneCoin And “The Missing Cryptoqueen’s” Episode Three

The most enjoyable factor about “The Missing Cryptoqueen” is the sense of immediacy it conveys. It’s a residing and respiration podcast. The story was occurring throughout Jamie Bartlett and the group. The OneCoin individuals react to “The Missing Cryptoqueen’s” creation and, by way of social media, assault the creators with all the pieces they’ve. And the entire scene is a part of the podcast. And that is simply episode three. In the top, they even ask for the viewers to name and tip them about Dr. Ruja’s whereabouts.

This episode begins with Konstantin Ignatov, Dr. Ruja’s youthful brother, private assistant, and inheritor to the OneCoin crown. He was arrested by the FBI and charged with cash laundering and fraud. The authorities had already declared OneCoin a fraud, even. Surprisingly, when Bartlett and the group go to the OneCoin headquarters, they understand that the corporate remains to be “open for enterprise.” People are nonetheless shopping for OneCoin even if one among their leaders is on the run and the opposite was arrested.

That leads us to the cult-like elements of the operation. A faith-like perception justifies the disappearance of the leaders as a conspiracy to cease OneCoin. In the quote beneath, you’ll really feel the silence whereas studying the outline of the group’s places of work. You’ll really feel the Dr. Ruja worship. It’s only one step away from faith and really close to a cult. Jamie Bartlett describes OneCoin as “much less a cryptocurrency and extra like a perception system.” An professional in that area corroborates the speculation.

BTC worth chart for 10/20/2022 on Bitstamp | Source: BTC/USD on TradingView.com

The Devastation That They Caused

At one level we, as soon as once more, hearken to Dr. Ruja’s personal voice saying the crypto scammers’ slogan. “In two years, nobody will speak about bitcoin.” If you ever hear that, run. In the second episode, we discovered that OneCoin known as the critics “haters.” In this one, we be taught that the buyers and staff are instructed to avoid them Scientology-style. Another shocking truth is that the second time period OneCoin makes use of probably the most to explain its critics is “bitcoiner.” Those pesky bitcoiners, at all times inflicting bother.

We be taught concerning the scale of the devastation that Dr. Ruja attributable to listening to concerning the OneCoin Victims Support Group. The victims are damaged, they’ve misplaced all the pieces after which some. We additionally be taught concerning the scale of the rip-off by the use of a report/ database that producer Georgia Catt bought her arms on. From everywhere in the world, the group was getting €60M every week. From August 2014 to March 2017, OneCoin’s income was over €4B. Over €100M have been from the UK alone. And that’s the place the report stops, the group was nonetheless earning money left and proper.

Quotes From “The Missing Cryptoqueen ’s” Episode Three – “More Than Just A Coin”

An nameless witness describing the OneCoin places of work:

“At its peak, it was about 50 individuals working within the Sofia workplace. Ruja’s workplace is on the 4th flooring. You by no means noticed her with out the gypsy earrings, the robes, the jewellery, all the pieces. Even when she’s simply working within the workplace. Inside the Sofia workplace, the crypto middle is the place members of the OneLife community are allowed to satisfy members of the Sofia workers who’re necessary. If you’re out of favor, they received’t allow you to in, or they’ll hold you sitting there the entire day, ready.

It’s arrange virtually like a cathedral. You don’t converse out loud, you whisper to one another. It’s all set in darkish tones, all the pieces is gilded. There was a giant cardboard cutout of Ruja. You see individuals touching it and doing that silly OneCoin signal prefer it’s an icon. It’s gone now as a result of it will definitely fell aside as a result of too many individuals have been touching it. Dr. Ruja! Dr. Ruja! The greatest insult which you can give OneLife is to say: “that’s not Dr. Ruja’s imaginative and prescient.”

Bitcoin-enthusiast Timothy Curry, describing the cult of character behind Dr. Ruja:

“There have been many cultish issues that the corporate did. The repetitive indoctrination. If you take a look at the highest leaders, the way in which they gown, the way in which that they confirmed issues off. Ceremonial issues, virtually like, particularly on stage. Everything, from the musical introductions to Ruja, to the theatrics, they actually did create a worship behind her.”

OneCoin Material And Episode Credits

Six years in the past, whereas OneCoin conquered the world, NewsBTC quoted the notorious Roger Ver talking on the case. Then generally known as a “bitcoin evangelist,” the controversial determine denounced OneCoin for what it’s:

“In a latest interview, the proprietor of Bitcoin.com says he believes OneCoin is a fraud, and that buyers ought to at all times be cautious of recent cash and browse up earlier than they put their cash in issues they don’t perceive:

“There is rarely a cryptocurrency with no pockets. This feels like extra proof of its fraudulent nature. OneCoin isn’t traded on a single change wherever on this planet so far as I do know.”

OneCoin has been round for over two years, however questions surrounding its authenticity proceed to plague the Internet.”

Say what you’ll about Roger Ver, however the man was proper on the cash on this one.

And lastly, the episode’s credit:

Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt
Story guide: Chris Berube
Editor: Philip Sellars
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir