Czech Justice Minister Resigns Over $45M Bitcoin Donation Scandal
Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned following a scandal involving the sale of nearly $45 million worth of Bitcoin donated by convicted drug trafficker Tomas Jirikovsky. The ministry auctioned off approximately 500 Bitcoin, with funds intended for digitizing the justice system and improving prison conditions. The controversy arose after it was revealed that the Bitcoin originated from Jirikovsky, who operated the dark web platform Sheep Marketplace. Blazek accepted the donation without investigating its origins, citing a lack of interest in the case's history. Public backlash and opposition criticism led to a police investigation into the Bitcoin's source. Blazek stepped down on May 30, stating he did not wish to harm the government's reputation. Czech President Petr Pavel recently signed legislation providing regulatory clarity for cryptocurrencies in line with EU laws.
