Czech Police Arrest Darknet Marketplace Founder Amid Bitcoin Donation Scandal

According to Cointelegraph, Czech police have arrested Tomas Jirikovsky, the founder of a darknet marketplace, in connection with a $45 million Bitcoin donation that led to the resignation of former Justice Minister Pavel Blazek earlier this year. The arrest occurred during a police intervention related to the Bitcoin donation case, which prompted Blazek's resignation. Chief State Prosecutor Radim Dragoun stated that authorities were securing individuals and items as part of a criminal case that had been separated for independent proceedings. Although the official statement did not confirm any arrests, local reports indicate that Jirikovsky was detained after allegedly attempting to bribe the minister with 468 BTC to avoid a new prison sentence. Jirikovsky reportedly tried to evade capture by climbing onto the roof of his home during a police raid on Thursday night. His ex-wife confirmed the incident, noting that a neighbor had alerted her to the situation. The police subsequently apprehended Jirikovsky and took him into custody. Jirikovsky is known as the architect of the illegal darknet marketplace Sheep Marketplace, which was associated with drug trafficking, weapons sales, and counterfeit goods. He was previously sentenced to nine years in prison in 2017 for embezzlement, drug trafficking, and illegal arms possession related to his activities on Sheep Marketplace. Released on parole in 2021 for good behavior, Jirikovsky's Bitcoin holdings, suspected to exceed 1,500 BTC, were never recovered by authorities. The controversy surrounding the Bitcoin donation continues to unfold, with former minister Blazek embroiled in a scandal after accepting the donation from a convicted drug dealer. Local reports quickly linked the donation to Jirikovsky, suggesting it originated from Nucleus, another darknet marketplace reportedly connected to him. Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence traced a significant Bitcoin transaction from a Nucleus wallet in March 2025, marking the platform's first transaction in nine years. Lucien Bourdon, a Bitcoin analyst at Trezor, commented on the traceability of criminal Bitcoin activity, highlighting that while regular users have privacy options, large transfers involving criminals or governments remain visible on the blockchain. Bourdon emphasized the potential for accountability if fiat transactions were equally transparent.