Dr Ruja Ignatova persuaded millions to join her financial revolution. Then she disappeared. Why? Jamie Bartlett presents a story of greed, deceit and herd madness.

The Missing Cryptoqueen

The search for Dr Ruja Ignatova takes an unexpected turn when a story emerges alleging she's been murdered. But with with sightings of Dr Ruja still coming in long after her apparent demise, can it be true? We speak to the Bulgarian journalists behind the story and team up with BBC colleagues to investigate the murder theory. It takes us on a trail to a Bulgarian man widely suspected of heading...

The search for Dr Ruja Ignatova takes an unexpected turn. Has she been murdered?

The search for Dr Ruja Ignatova takes an unexpected turn when a story emerges alleging she's been murdered. But with with sightings of Dr Ruja still coming in long after her apparent demise, can it be true? We speak to the Bulgarian journalists behind the story and team up with BBC colleagues to investigate the murder theory. It takes us on a trail to a Bulgarian man widely suspected of heading an organised crime organisation. Meanwhile, a trusted former adviser to Dr Ruja disappears, just like his old boss.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Rob Byrne
Executive Producer: Georgia Catt
Commissioner: Dylan Haskins
Series Editor: Philip Sellars
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Featuring material from: LiveNow from Fox, Radio 100,7.
The Missing Cryptoqueen is a BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Sounds and BBC 5Live

12. Wanted: Dead or Alive?

How mysterious friends in influential places may have helped Ruja stay one step ahead. A massive revelation we only now know, but which Ruja knew years earlier. 
Who are they? And could they be helping her now?
CREDITS
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producers: Rob Byrne and Georgia Catt
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulg...

How mysterious friends in influential places may have helped Ruja stay one step ahead.

How mysterious friends in influential places may have helped Ruja stay one step ahead. A massive revelation we only now know, but which Ruja knew years earlier. Who are they? And could they be helping her now?CREDITS
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producers: Rob Byrne and Georgia Catt
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Studio Engineer: Giles Aspen
Series Editor: Philip Sellars
Commissioner: Dylan Haskins
The Missing Cryptoqueen is a BBC Documentaries production for BBC Sounds and BBC 5Live

11. Operation Satellite

The search for Dr Ruja Ignatova gathers pace, five years after she disappeared. Files leaked from Dubai reveal how Dr Ruja stashed millions in the emirate and struck up a relationship with a mysterious sheikh. Then, a careless selfie leads the podcast to a mansion in an exclusive gated community. As the FBI steps up its search, new information surfaces about Dr Ruja’s disappearance from an unli...

The search for Dr Ruja gathers pace.

The search for Dr Ruja Ignatova gathers pace, five years after she disappeared. Files leaked from Dubai reveal how Dr Ruja stashed millions in the emirate and struck up a relationship with a mysterious sheikh. Then, a careless selfie leads the podcast to a mansion in an exclusive gated community. As the FBI steps up its search, new information surfaces about Dr Ruja’s disappearance from an unlikely source.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producers: Rob Byrne and Georgia Catt
Series Producer: Georgia Catt
Commissioner: Dylan Haskins
Series Editor: Philip Sellars
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Featuring footage from: LiveNow from Fox, 5en News, Prag News, Welt Netzreporter
The Missing Cryptoqueen is a BBC Documentaries production for BBC Sounds and BBC 5Live

10. The Dubai Files

The search for Dr Ruja is back on. A lot has happened since Episode 8.
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
This audio was updated on 12/08/2020 to reflect additional correspondence with Chelgate.

The search for Dr Ruja is back on. A lot has happened since Episode 8.

The search for Dr Ruja is back on. A lot has happened since Episode 8.Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian ChoirThis audio was updated on 12/08/2020 to reflect additional correspondence with Chelgate.

9. Follow the Money

The final episode takes an unexpected twist.
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt Additional Research: Ignatius Bahizi
Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir

The final episode takes an unexpected twist.

The final episode takes an unexpected twist.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt Additional Research: Ignatius Bahizi
Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir

8. The Technology and the Dream

Could Dr Ruja and the missing billions be hidden in plain sight? A number of small leads seem to be pointing to one place.
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Episode 7 of 8. Released weekly

Could Dr Ruja and the missing billions be hidden in plain sight?

Could Dr Ruja and the missing billions be hidden in plain sight? A number of small leads seem to be pointing to one place.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian ChoirEpisode 7 of 8. Released weekly

7. In Plain Sight

In 2009 Dr Ruja and her father bought a metallurgic factory in Southern Germany. What does this have to do with her disappearance today? Those who knew her at the time tell a strangely familiar story about the impressive businesswoman who came to save their workplace.
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original ...

A factory in Germany and a cryptocurrency scam. Two different worlds, one familiar story.

In 2009 Dr Ruja and her father bought a metallurgic factory in Southern Germany. What does this have to do with her disappearance today? Those who knew her at the time tell a strangely familiar story about the impressive businesswoman who came to save their workplace.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian ChoirEpisode 6 of 8. Released weekly.

6. The Überflieger

'Who is to blame?'
One of the world's highest-earning Multi-Level-Marketers and former OneCoin top seller agrees to speak. In his mansion on the outskirts of Amsterdam, Jamie learns the secret behind OneCoin's rapid growth and the huge amounts of money that has been made by those at the top.
The Missing Cryptoqueen is an eight-part series for BBC Sounds, with new episodes every Thursday.
Presen...

One of the world's highest-earning MLM'ers and former top OneCoin seller, agrees to talk.

'Who is to blame?'One of the world's highest-earning Multi-Level-Marketers and former OneCoin top seller agrees to speak. In his mansion on the outskirts of Amsterdam, Jamie learns the secret behind OneCoin's rapid growth and the huge amounts of money that has been made by those at the top.The Missing Cryptoqueen is an eight-part series for BBC Sounds, with new episodes every Thursday.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt
Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Written and researched by Jamie Bartlett and Georgia Catt

5. What Dreams May Come

Jamie and Georgia arrive in Bucharest in the hope of seeing their first OneCoin event: The Miss OneLife 2019 Beauty Pageant. Who else could be there?
The Missing Cryptoqueen is an eight-part series for BBC Sounds, with new episodes every Thursday.
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt
Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Des...

Jamie and Georgia arrive in Bucharest for their first OneCoin event. Who might be there?

Jamie and Georgia arrive in Bucharest in the hope of seeing their first OneCoin event: The Miss OneLife 2019 Beauty Pageant. Who else could be there?The Missing Cryptoqueen is an eight-part series for BBC Sounds, with new episodes every Thursday.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt
Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Written and Researched by Jamie Bartlett and Georgia Catt

4. Miss OneLife

In Spring this year, something unexpected happened. On March 6th 2019, Dr Ruja's brother Konstantin was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport and charged with money laundering and fraud in connection with OneCoin. Dr Ruja was also charged in absentia, and US authorities declared OneCoin a fraud. We thought this could be the end of OneCoin, and our search. It wasn't. Why?
The Missing Cry...

Dr Ruja's hold over OneCoin investors is far stronger than we thought. Why?

In Spring this year, something unexpected happened. On March 6th 2019, Dr Ruja's brother Konstantin was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport and charged with money laundering and fraud in connection with OneCoin. Dr Ruja was also charged in absentia, and US authorities declared OneCoin a fraud. We thought this could be the end of OneCoin, and our search. It wasn't. Why?The Missing Cryptoqueen is an eight-part series for BBC Sounds, with new episodes every Thursday.Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Georgia Catt
Story Consultant: Chris Berube Editor: Philip Sellars Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir

BBC is casting
The Missing Cryptoqueen

The Missing Cryptoqueen

Related podcasts

Sword and Scale

Bite Sized Health and Wellness

The Mind Deconstructed: Mental Health and Wellness

Sex Power Money with Sara Pascoe

True Sunlight

Small Town Dicks

Hollywood & Crime

Sh**ged Married Annoyed

Hollywood & Crime

The Lighthouse

BodyMedicine Podcast: Embodiment, Mental Wellness, and Herbs

Truth and Lies: The Boston Strangler

BBC is casting The Missing Cryptoqueen

The Missing Cryptoqueen

Related podcasts

Sword and Scale

Bite Sized Health and Wellness

The Mind Deconstructed: Mental Health and Wellness

Sex Power Money with Sara Pascoe

True Sunlight

Small Town Dicks

Hollywood & Crime

Sh**ged Married Annoyed

Hollywood & Crime

The Lighthouse

BodyMedicine Podcast: Embodiment, Mental Wellness, and Herbs

Truth and Lies: The Boston Strangler

BBC is casting
The Missing Cryptoqueen