The Missing Cryptoqueen

4.6 (989)
DOCUMENTARY

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.

06/03/2024

12. Wanted: Dead or Alive?

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

33 min
12/22/2022 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

A short update

From The Missing Cryptoqueen team.

3 min
10/19/2022

11. Operation Satellite

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

48 min
10/14/2022 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Introducing Burn Wild – Episode 1 – The Elves are watching

The Missing Cryptoqueen is back with episode 11 on October 19th. But in the meantime a taster of another podcast, Burn Wild. A story of two fugitive environmentalists, an eco-terrorist cell and a burning question: How far is too far to go to save the planet? To hear more of Burn Wild, updated each Tuesday, search and subscribe: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0cx6tw7

47 min
09/28/2022

10. The Dubai Files

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

45 min
09/23/2022 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Coming soon...

The Missing Cryptoqueen is back with new episodes from 28 September.

2 min
08/06/2020

9. Follow the Money

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.

46 min
07/29/2020 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

A message for listeners

Coming soon...

2 min

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Jamie Bartlett

Host

4.6

out of 5

989 Ratings

Fascinating and chilling

10/04/2025

bunnyreebs

This was an excellent podcast with top notch journalism. At times I felt frustrated by the host but I chalked it up to what I can only describe as his “britishisms” the sort of frustrating way British people don’t speak directly. The story itself gets very scary towards the end. In some ways I do think they have reached the end of their search and that to go further would be touching something that is beyond the realm of BBC journalism. To me it seemed obvious that it was a scam for the beginning, I don’t think I’m that much smarter than other people though because I think, crucially, the want to believe in it was the nexus that propelled it to such heights. There was just enough truth in crypto riches to be plausible enough that it felt so good to give in to belief I imagine. That being said it is an audacious crime. Perhaps one of the most brazen and large scale scams of all time. Alongside Bernie Madoff but so different too. I can’t believe people are still investing in it and still promoting it. It’s also a great example of how tacky rich people really are. When Jamie described the Dutch millionaires home I was rolling my eyes the whole time. What a cockroach lol. I don’t know if we will ever truly know what happened to Ruja but I think it can safely be sad that One Coin is a massive criminal enterprise.
Mannered and overproduced

12/29/2025

Saurolophus

Interesting story, but the off putting production plays like an endless movie trailer: frenetic, mannered, and overproduced.
Someone’s gotta say it…

08/07/2025

d00dles4science

Has anyone checked the guest suite at that one fancy resort in FL? It’s only a matter of time before He Who Must Not Be Named and his Russian pal gets involved, if they aren’t already! Awesome podcast, one of my favorites!! I am so looking forward to episode 13. Can’t believe this is still going on- truly the scheme of the century, it’s insane.
Excellent story telling. Shame about the annoying music.

07/03/2024

Nhandy1

This podcast is when written and researched and very well presented. It’s in in-depth look at a complex scandal. The only blot is the constant playing of Bulgarian traditional music - presumably as a mood-setter. It’s ok at first but just becomes a wailing irritant.

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.