Liquid Network has recovered 3,400 BTC worth about $269.2 million from the self-described white-hat hackers behind a 4,000 BTC withdrawal, although nearly $47 million remains outstanding.

Liquid Network has recovered 85% of the withdrawn Bitcoin

On-chain data shows that the actors returned 3,400 BTC, worth about $268.2 million when confirmed, to the Liquid Federation wallet in Bitcoin block 965,950. The transfer recovered about 85% of the withdrawn funds, while 598.5 BTC worth roughly $47 million remained in the actors’ address. Blockstream had previously told the group through a signed transaction message that its bridge nodes were patched and the funds were “safe to return.”

Around 598.5 BTC, valued at roughly $47 million, remained in the withdrawal-linked address after the larger transfer. The actors have not publicly explained why they retained the remaining coins or stated whether another repayment will follow.

Sunday’s incident began when a customer sent 4,000 Liquid Bitcoin, or L-BTC, to SideSwap’s peg-out service. SideSwap allows users to move value from the Liquid sidechain back to the Bitcoin network through an authorized withdrawal process.

The actors later identified themselves as “whitehats” in a message attached to a Bitcoin transaction. White-hat hackers generally find and report security weaknesses so developers can repair them, often receiving a bounty under terms agreed with the affected project.

No publicly disclosed agreement has established that the Liquid actors had permission to withdraw the funds, however. Blockstream and the actors also have not published terms granting a bounty or allowing the group to retain nearly 600 BTC.

As crypto.news reported before the return, the actors had offered to send back “most” of the Bitcoin once Blockstream fixed the vulnerability. At that point, no repayment had been confirmed, and the withdrawal represented about 95% of the Bitcoin reportedly held in Liquid’s federation wallet.

On-chain messages led to the 3,400 BTC repayment

Communication between Blockstream and the actors took place through messages attached to Bitcoin transactions, allowing both sides to exchange instructions without relying on a private messaging service.

In one transaction message, the actors told Blockstream to repair the flaw before they returned the Bitcoin.

“Please fix the bug first,” the message said. “The chain is under risk at latest commit right now. Make sure every node is patched. Then we will transfer the money back safely after confirming the fix.”

Following that confirmation, the actors sent 3,400 BTC to the Liquid Federation address. The exchange shows that the repayment depended on the actors accepting Blockstream’s statement that the affected nodes were safe, though neither side has released a technical report identifying the flaw or explaining how the withdrawal became possible.

Liquid disabled its bridge nodes after detecting the transaction and asked exchanges to suspend L-BTC deposits and withdrawals. The shutdown restricted movement between Liquid and the Bitcoin base layer while developers investigated the incident and applied the patch.

Blockstream has said the key used during the withdrawal was not compromised, according to Reuters. The company has not released a complete post-mortem detailing whether the flaw affected SideSwap, the bridge software, Liquid’s Elements codebase, or another part of the peg-out process.

Ledger CTO questions the white-hat description

Ledger Chief Technology Officer Charles Guillemet challenged the actors’ description of themselves after they returned most of the coins but retained nearly 600 BTC.

“So, 3,400 BTC were refunded,” Guillemet wrote on X. “The ‘white hats’ still hold 600 BTC. If this was ever a negotiated reward under an encrypted contract signed on-chain, it looks more like extortion than white-hat hacking!”

His comment focused on the lack of disclosed terms covering the retained Bitcoin. A conventional bug bounty normally sets the reward and return conditions before a researcher keeps part of the affected funds, while no comparable agreement between Blockstream and the actors has been made public.

A similar issue emerged after the Verus Ethereum bridge exploit in May. In that case, the attacker returned 75% of the stolen funds and kept 1,350 ETH, then worth about $2.8 million, after Verus publicly offered settlement terms. The Liquid repayment differs because Blockstream has not said that the remaining 598.5 BTC constitutes an approved bounty.

White-hat claims also do not determine an actor’s legal status by themselves. Any legal assessment would depend on factors such as authorization, the method used to obtain the assets, communications between the parties, and applicable laws. No U.S. regulator or law enforcement agency has announced an action tied to the Liquid withdrawal.

L-BTC holders await details on backing and withdrawals

Liquid is a federated Bitcoin sidechain developed by Blockstream. Users lock BTC through its peg system and receive L-BTC on the sidechain at a one-to-one ratio, allowing faster settlement and asset transfers without moving every transaction across the Bitcoin base layer.

A recent bridge security explainer described how systems that lock assets on one network and issue corresponding tokens elsewhere depend on the security of their custody, validation, and message-processing systems. Failures at any of those points can interrupt redemptions even when the underlying blockchain continues operating normally.

For U.S.-based users, the immediate issue is operational rather than a change to federal crypto rules. American holders who use L-BTC face the same suspended deposits, withdrawals, and peg services as other users, while native BTC held directly on the Bitcoin blockchain is separate from Liquid’s sidechain system.

Liquid has not disclosed whether the returned 3,400 BTC has fully restored backing for the corresponding L-BTC supply. The network also has not said how it plans to handle any gap created by the 598.5 BTC still controlled by the actors.

No reopening time has been given for the bridge nodes, and exchanges were still being asked to keep L-BTC deposits and withdrawals suspended. Blockstream has also not published the promised technical account of the flaw or confirmed whether the actors intend to return the remaining Bitcoin.

The Ethereum Foundation has published ratings for 62 Hegotá proposals after collecting 397 assessments from about 60 protocol specialists across nine teams.

The Ethereum Foundation said in a Sept. 7 post on X that its Protocol Cluster had released two articles covering Hegotá and the long-term work planned for Ethereum’s base layer.

Ethereum ranks 62 Hegotá proposals

One article, called the Hegotá EIP Opinion Post and Tier List, evaluates all 62 Ethereum Improvement Proposals under consideration for the upgrade. According to the Foundation, it is the Protocol Cluster’s first shared tier list covering a single network upgrade.

Around 60 researchers, engineers, and specialists from nine teams submitted 397 individual ratings. Participants also held live discussions about proposals that produced differing opinions, allowing teams to compare technical benefits, development costs and possible conflicts before Hegotá’s scope is settled.

Ratings do not mean that all 62 proposals will reach Ethereum’s mainnet. The list records how members of the Protocol Cluster view each proposal while client developers, researchers and the Ethereum community continue assessing which changes can be built and tested within Hegotá’s development schedule.

In August, crypto.news reported on Hegotá as developers considered proposals related to censorship resistance, native account abstraction, privacy, validator economics, and gas pricing. At the time, the official meta EIP listed EIP-7805, known as Fork Choice-enforced Inclusion Lists, as the only feature scheduled for inclusion.

FOCIL would allow a committee of validators to publish lists of eligible transactions that block builders should include. Under the design, attesters could reject a block when a builder improperly leaves out listed transactions, reducing the influence that concentrated block-building infrastructure can exert over transaction inclusion.

Execution client teams were also asked to rank their preferred Hegotá proposals by Sept. 10. Previous discussions covered competing designs for native account abstraction, shorter slot times, state-growth pricing, privacy tools, and proposed changes to validator incentives, although consideration did not guarantee inclusion.

Ethereum’s public roadmap currently places Hegotá in 2027, after the Glamsterdam upgrade planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. The roadmap remains open to revision because Ethereum upgrades require implementation, development networks, public testnets, and client coordination before mainnet activation.

Quantum resistance becomes a 2029 commitment

The Protocol Cluster’s second article, Current and Emerging Priorities, sets out commitments and research tracks that extend beyond one hard fork. Among them, the cluster has set December 2029 as the deadline for making Ethereum Layer 1 resistant to attacks from quantum computers.

Fredrik Svantes, who leads protocol coordination at the Ethereum Foundation, said the cluster is “aggressively targeting” a quantum-resistant L1 no later than December 2029. In a separate X post, he said the commitment affects which proposals the teams recommend for Hegotá and how they assess other protocol work.

Ethereum is not quantum-resistant today. Its account and validator systems use cryptographic methods that future quantum machines could potentially break, although the Foundation’s quantum-resistance documentation says existing hardware remains far below the capacity required for such an attack.

Preparation involves more than replacing one algorithm. Ethereum researchers have divided the work across user accounts, validator signatures, consensus, data availability and zero-knowledge proof systems, each of which carries different performance and migration requirements.

Account-level experiments have already started. In June, Ethereum researcher Nico said users could add post-quantum protection through smart contract logic for about $0.07 per account, without waiting for a hard fork. The proposed method uses SPHINCS-based signatures, but the account protection would not make the entire network resistant to quantum attacks.

A draft submitted on Aug. 24 addresses another part of the migration. Under the proposed design, a replacement validator deposit contract would accept variable-length public keys and assign identifiers to different signature systems.

As the deposit proposal explains, the first identifier would preserve Ethereum’s existing BLS deposits, while later identifiers could support post-quantum signature schemes. The proposal does not select a replacement algorithm, and Ethereum would still need a consensus-layer change to verify and process signatures created under any new system.

Developers also described an irreversible migration switch that could eventually stop new BLS deposits after an agreed transition period. Existing validators, staking providers, and client teams would need time to update their infrastructure before such a switch could safely take effect.

Hegotá connects security with account changes

Native account abstraction could support the quantum-security plan by allowing Ethereum accounts to use different methods for authorizing transactions. Ethereum’s roadmap says programmable validation could add social recovery, spending controls and sponsored gas while providing a route away from one fixed signature scheme.

Privacy, scaling, and proof verification also remain part of the same development program. In August, Vitalik Buterin’s updated Ethereum roadmap placed post-quantum scaling beside native rollups, stronger privacy tools and AI-assisted formal verification.

Hegotá will not complete every part of that program. The tier-list process instead gives protocol teams a shared record of which EIPs have support, which require more research, and which may create too much complexity for the planned upgrade.

Proposals must still pass through Ethereum’s usual development process. Client teams must implement accepted changes, operate development networks, and run public testnets before core developers can agree on a mainnet activation date.

US standards add pressure to the 2029 deadline

For U.S. investors and companies using Ethereum, the Foundation’s timetable sits close to the federal government’s own post-quantum transition. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology has told organizations to begin replacing cryptography that quantum computers could defeat.

In August 2024, NIST approved three standards for post-quantum security. FIPS 203 covers a key-encapsulation method, while FIPS 204 and FIPS 205 specify lattice-based and hash-based digital signature systems.

NIST said the standards were ready for immediate use and later advised organizations to identify systems that depend on vulnerable public-key algorithms. Its transition plan calls for high-risk systems to move earlier, with quantum-vulnerable algorithms removed from NIST standards by 2035.

Ethereum’s December 2029 commitment does not create a U.S. regulatory requirement for ETH holders, exchanges, custodians or exchange-traded products. It does, however, fall within the migration period established by the U.S. technical standards agency, which gives American infrastructure providers a federal reference point when assessing their cryptographic systems.

The Foundation has scheduled an ask-me-anything session for Sept. 16 at 14:00 UTC in Reddit’s r/ethereum community. Protocol Cluster members will take questions about the Hegotá rankings, disputed proposals, and the priorities described in the two articles.

Brazil’s largest banks have expanded their crypto offerings to as many as 28 assets after transactions across the country reached R$505.5 billion or about $98.7 billion in 2025.

Brazil banks expand crypto access without taking exposure

Folha de S.Paulo reported on Sept. 7 that Itaú, Bradesco, Santander, Banco do Brasil and Nubank have expanded their digital-asset services since 2025, giving customers access to cryptocurrencies through familiar banking apps.

Itaú, Brazil’s largest bank by assets under management, now offers 15 crypto assets through its investment platform. Its selection includes Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Circle’s dollar-backed stablecoin USDC.

Nubank has built a larger selection, listing 28 digital assets for more than 7 million users of its crypto platform. Banco do Brasil, the country’s most profitable state-controlled bank, began allowing customers to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum directly in January.

Since opening the service, Banco do Brasil has processed more than R$11 million ($2.1 million) in customer transactions, according to information the bank provided to Folha.

Customer access has not led the institutions to buy crypto for their own accounts. Central Bank of Brazil filings from March 2026, reviewed by the newspaper, showed that Brazilian banks reported no virtual assets on their balance sheets.

Under the service model used by the banks, customers can purchase or hold digital assets while the institution provides custody or processes the order. Proprietary exposure would arise only if a bank used its own funds to acquire crypto and accepted the related price, liquidity, and credit risks.

Carlos Akira Sato, co-founder of financial consultancy Syscapital, said demand from clients has driven banks to add the products even as they remain cautious about direct exposure.

“In a conservative sector, as the banking sector is, regulation makes institutions more secure to launch their products,” Sato told Folha.

Crypto transactions reached R$505.5 billion in 2025

Brazilian users and companies completed R$505.5 billion ($98.7 billion) in crypto transactions during 2025, according to data from the country’s federal tax authority, Receita Federal.

The total increased 22% from 2024 and 433% from the amount recorded in 2020. Companies accounted for nearly all reported activity, completing R$497 billion, about $97 billion in transactions, or 98.3% of the annual volume.

Individual investors generated the remaining share. The figures cover activity reported to the tax authority and do not show how much of the volume passed through bank-operated platforms.

Stablecoins make up a large part of Brazil’s digital-asset market because they give users access to tokens designed to track the U.S. dollar. In July, the International Monetary Fund called for closer stablecoin oversight as cross-border crypto flows became more connected with Brazil’s financial system.

The IMF’s Financial System Stability Assessment said stablecoin purchases in Brazil were two to three times more sensitive to global shocks than portfolio investment and foreign direct investment. The fund also identified gaps in customer protection, anti-money laundering controls, and oversight of cross-border activity.

Banco Safra, which mainly serves wealthy clients, entered the stablecoin market directly in September 2025 by issuing Safra Dólar. The bank keeps custody of the dollar-pegged token in-house and offers it to clients seeking dollar exposure without opening an overseas bank account.

Itaú had also considered issuing a token tied to Brazil’s real. In April 2025, the bank’s digital-assets head, Guto Antunes, said the project depended on the outcome of a Central Bank consultation, although stablecoins had remained on Itaú’s agenda. The bank was still assessing an in-house token while regulators worked on rules for the sector.

Brazil crypto rules set capital and licensing requirements

Brazil’s Legal Framework for Virtual Assets, enacted in 2022, assigned oversight of the sector to the Central Bank. The regulator then published Resolutions 519, 520 and 521 in November 2025 to set operating rules for virtual-asset service providers.

Companies that let customers trade, transfer or hold crypto must obtain authorization, maintain minimum capital and separate client assets from company funds. Around 120 crypto firms operating in Brazil must meet the licensing requirements by Oct. 30, 2026.

In July, the Central Bank approved additional capital and risk rules that will begin taking effect in January 2027. The framework places virtual-asset service providers within the regulatory structure used for brokers and distributors while adding governance, disclosure, and risk-management requirements.

Under the new prudential structure, crypto providers will enter Brazil’s S4 regulatory segment by mid-2028. Smaller institutions classified under the S5 segment will no longer be allowed to provide virtual-asset services.

Resolution 521 also brought some crypto transactions under Brazil’s foreign-exchange framework. Purchases, sales or exchanges involving tokens denominated in foreign currency, including dollar-pegged stablecoins, are treated as foreign-exchange operations and carry reporting requirements similar to certain international money transfers.

Licensed banks already operate under Central Bank supervision, giving them an established compliance structure as crypto-only companies prepare authorization requests. The rules do not require banks to purchase digital assets for their own portfolios before offering custody or execution services to clients.

U.S. banks can also provide crypto custody

American banking rules similarly separate customer-directed crypto services from assets purchased for a bank’s own account. In March 2025, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency confirmed that national banks and federal savings associations may provide crypto custody, conduct certain stablecoin activities and participate in distributed-ledger networks.

OCC Interpretive Letter 1183 removed an earlier requirement for supervised banks to obtain written non-objection before starting permitted crypto activities. The agency said banks must still conduct such business safely, fairly, and in compliance with applicable law.

Two months later, OCC Interpretive Letter 1184 confirmed that covered banks may buy and sell crypto held in custody when acting on a customer’s instructions. Banks may also outsource custody and execution to third parties, provided they apply suitable third-party risk controls.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reportedly has reached out to prediction market companies as part of discussions over whether the regulator would loosen a ban for retail investors, in place since 2019.

According to a Friday report from The Times, the FCA is weighing lifting a ban on prediction market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi for UK-based retail investors. Because prediction markets offer binary options on event contracts, such as for sports, politics and the weather, they fall under an April 2019 ban imposed by the FCA, in which companies were “prohibited from selling, marketing or distributing binary options to retail consumers.”

“Binary options are gambling products dressed up as financial instruments,” said the FCA’s executive director of strategy and competition, Christopher Woolard, at the time of the ban.

According to The Times report, many retail investors based in the UK have been using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the country’s restrictions on prediction markets and execute trades on Kalshi and Polymarket, both with operations in the US. Bernstein Research speculated in April that the total prediction market industry could rise to about $240 billion in trading volume in 2026 and $1 trillion in 2030.

Should the FCA overturn the 2019 ban, prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket could face similar challenges as they are dealing with in the US, where individual state gaming authorities are filing lawsuits against the companies over sporting event contracts. Last week, New Jersey officials petitioned the Supreme Court to hear its case against Kalshi, potentially leading to clarification between state and federal authorities over prediction markets.

Related: Kalshi issues first lifetime ban for Republican politician over insider bets

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Crypto investment flows are increasingly reacting not to crypto-specific news, but to shifts in the US interest-rate outlook. CoinShares said this week that the Federal Reserve remains a major constraint on Bitcoin’s ability to decisively break above the psychologically important $80,000 level—even as inflows show investors are still willing to hold the asset.

In a market update released on April 9, 2026, CoinShares head of research James Butterfill argued that Bitcoin is beginning to trade “like gold again,” but that monetary policy is still effectively placing a ceiling around $80,000.

Key takeaways

• CoinShares links recent crypto flow swings to changes in the Fed’s perceived path for rates rather than to new crypto catalysts.
• Following remarks from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at Jackson Hole, about $100 million left digital asset investment products as markets raised expectations for a September rate hike.
• Flows reversed over the next week, reaching roughly $1 billion by Sept. 4, coinciding with signals from Fed Governor Christopher Waller that he could support holding rates steady in September if inflation data continues to improve.
• Fed Funds futures priced near a 60% chance of a rate hike after the Sept. 4 period, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool.
• CoinShares’ rate sensitivity comes as US Treasury plans to increase long-dated buybacks aim to support broader liquidity conditions that have historically helped risk assets.

Why the “rate path” matters for Bitcoin

CoinShares’ central message is that investor behavior is not necessarily moving away from crypto; instead, it is reacting to the market’s evolving assumptions about the Fed. Butterfill’s comment that “investors are not exiting the asset class… they are trading the rate path” frames the recent pattern: when expectations for tightening rose, money flowed out; when the odds shifted toward steadier policy, inflows returned.

The immediate catalyst for that sensitivity came after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole remarks. Warsh said progress on inflation had been modest and that price pressures were not easing quickly enough to give the central bank confidence inflation was moving back toward its 2% target. CoinShares reported that roughly $100 million exited digital asset investment products right after the speech as markets quickly increased the probability of a September rate hike.

That “risk-off to risk-on” reversal underscores how marginal changes in liquidity expectations are influencing crypto positioning. Easier financial conditions have historically been supportive for Bitcoin and other risk assets, and CoinShares’ analysis suggests the market is currently treating the Fed as the primary driver of that liquidity impulse.

From Jackson Hole to September: inflows rebound

CoinShares said flows improved after the initial post–Jackson Hole reaction. Over the following week, inflows reached about $1 billion by Sept. 4, indicating investors were willing to return once the probability of further tightening appeared less aggressive.

This rebound coincided with comments from Fed Governor Christopher Waller. According to the same CoinShares discussion, Waller highlighted recent signs of “disinflation” and indicated he was inclined to keep rates steady in September if upcoming inflation data continued showing progress. For traders and fund managers, this kind of language matters because it shifts how quickly the market expects policy to change—and those expectations often translate into broader moves in yields and risk appetite.

As of Monday, CoinShares pointed to data from CME Group showing Fed Funds futures implied about a 60% chance of a rate hike after the next FOMC meeting. The implication is straightforward: Bitcoin’s performance around key technical levels like $80,000 may remain vulnerable to any sudden repricing of the probability distribution around September’s decision.

Liquidity signals beyond crypto: Treasury buybacks

CoinShares’ interest-rate focus comes alongside a separate, potentially supportive liquidity backdrop. The firm’s assessment is occurring after the US Treasury announced plans to double certain long-dated bond buybacks—from $2 billion to $4 billion per operation—aimed at increasing demand for Treasurys over a defined window.

Cointelegraph reported that Bitcoin rose from the low $60,000s to above $80,000 during last month’s advance. The buyback program is expected to run from Sept. 9 through Nov. 4, spanning multiple weeks into the period when markets will be re-evaluating the Fed’s stance and inflation trajectory.

One way to interpret this overlap is through portfolio behavior. As noted in an excerpt from 21Shares co-founder Ophelia Snyder’s Substack newsletter, the Treasury announcement was accompanied by equity sell-offs and shifts across the yield curve, with other macro noise—such as developments related to the Iran conflict and how markets interpreted diplomatic prospects—adding volatility to oil and equity pricing.

Snyder argued that, taken together, these factors point to the rally having “less to do with crypto-specific catalysts” and more to do with investors adjusting de-risking exposure specifically to the US. Whether or not that interpretation proves entirely correct, it aligns with CoinShares’ broader theme: investors are sensitive to the macro transmission mechanism that affects liquidity and relative asset attractiveness.

Standard Chartered has also forecast that Bitcoin could reach $100,000 before year-end, as cited in earlier coverage that framed the bond-buyback backdrop as part of the broader driver set for liquidity and risk positioning.

What to watch next as pricing tightens

The practical takeaway for market participants is that Bitcoin’s near-term trading behavior may continue to track rate expectations more than it tracks internal crypto fundamentals. Investors should watch how quickly Fed-related odds change heading into the September decision—especially since CoinShares’ flow data suggests sudden repricing can move money rapidly into or out of digital asset investment products.

At the same time, the Treasury buybacks schedule starting Sept. 9 through Nov. 4 will be a parallel factor that could influence broader liquidity conditions. The key question is whether incoming inflation and Fed signals reinforce steadier policy expectations—or force another shift in the rate path that crypto flows have shown they are willing to respond to immediately.

Polish prosecutors have charged Roman Ż., a former business partner of missing BitBay founder Sylwester Suszek, with two offenses as the Zondacrypto investigation expands beyond 3,600 customer complaints.

Zondacrypto suspect faces two charges

According to a report published Monday, Roman Ż. was arrested on Saturday in Poland’s Silesia region before being taken to the National Prosecutor’s Office branch in Katowice for questioning.

Prosecutors charged him with two offenses, including fraud, according to his lawyer, Błażej Gazda. Authorities have not publicly described the second allegation or released a detailed account of the evidence supporting either charge.

Ż. denied the allegations and gave investigators an extensive statement, Gazda said. His lawyer described him as a former business partner of Suszek who helped manage BitBay before the exchange changed its name to Zonda in 2021.

During searches at the arrest location and Ż.’s registered address, officers seized valuable watches and documents tied to Zondacrypto’s operations. Poland’s Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime and the Katowice regional police took part in the operation, according to the National Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors ordered the arrest after learning that Ż. planned to travel to China, which they viewed as grounds for a flight risk. Gazda said the planned journey was a business trip and that his client had a return ticket dated Sept. 13.

Polish prosecutors intend to seek pretrial detention while the investigation continues. A court must decide whether the evidence and stated flight risk justify keeping Ż. in custody.

Exchange losses are estimated at $94 million

Founded by Suszek in 2014, BitBay developed into one of Poland’s best-known cryptocurrency exchanges before adopting the Zondacrypto name in 2021. The platform reported having more than 1 million registered users around the time of the rebrand.

Problems became public in early 2026 when customers began reporting delayed or frozen withdrawals. Zondacrypto acknowledged payment delays affecting some users in late February and suspended Bitcoin deposits on March 17, citing market volatility.

The exchange stopped trading in April, while its website went offline on April 23. Available market trackers later showed no active Zondacrypto trading pairs or reported trading volume, and the company-linked ZND token lost almost all of its value.

As crypto.news previously reported, prosecutors estimated customer losses at more than 350 million zlotys, equivalent to approximately $94 million at the reported exchange rate. The figure is considerably higher than the 35 million zlotys cited in some early accounts of the case.

Polish authorities opened their investigation in April over suspected large-scale fraud and money laundering. By June, prosecutors had received more than 3,600 complaints from customers who said they could not recover assets held on the platform.

Investigators have frozen €4 million held in one bank account, according to local media reports. Authorities have also secured more than 100 million zlotys in assets that could potentially support compensation claims, although no repayment process or final distribution has been announced.

The Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit initially restricted the license of BB Trade Estonia OÜ, the legal entity behind the exchange, preventing it from accepting new customer assets. A previous report said the regulator revoked the company’s operating license on June 29 after the earlier suspension.

Suszek disappearance forms part of the investigation

Suszek disappeared on March 10, 2022, after travelling to a meeting in Czeladź, Poland. He had left his executive position before Zondacrypto’s collapse, but authorities continue to examine events surrounding BitBay’s creation and early operations.

In August, prosecutors combined the Zondacrypto criminal investigation with the inquiry into Suszek’s disappearance. Authorities said information about BitBay’s management, ownership and financial activity could help investigators establish what happened to its founder.

Suszek’s family reportedly received messages claiming that he had been kidnapped and that the people responsible wanted a Bitcoin payment. Publicly available information has not established whether the messages were genuine, and no court has determined what happened to him.

Roman Ż. is at least the fifth person to face charges after prosecutors joined the two investigations. His past business relationship with Suszek and his reported role in managing BitBay place his activities within the period now being examined by investigators.

In a separate case dating to 2019, prosecutors accused Ż. of leading an organized criminal group and laundering 28 million zlotys through BitBay accounts, according to Polish news outlet Interia. The allegation relates to separate proceedings and has not been presented as proof of the charges filed in the Zondacrypto case.

Other Zondacrypto suspects remain under investigation

Ż.’s detention followed a series of arrests involving people allegedly connected to the exchange. Police detained stock-market investor Rafał Z., Jaromira W., and Anna P. during the previous week, and a court later approved their continued detention. All three denied the alleged offenses, according to local reports.

Polish Olympic Committee President Radosław Piesiewicz has also been charged with paid influence and favoring one group of Zondacrypto creditors over others while the exchange was approaching insolvency.

An Aug. 27 report on Piesiewicz said investigators were examining whether he received advance information that allowed him to withdraw his entire investment while other customers could not access their funds. Piesiewicz denied receiving preferential treatment and described himself as a victim of the platform.

The second allegation against Piesiewicz concerns a claim that he offered to use his contacts to help Zondacrypto address problems involving Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. Investigators have also examined a €40,000 Patek Philippe watch allegedly purchased by former Zondacrypto chief Przemysław Kral before a meeting with Piesiewicz in Monaco.

Neither Piesiewicz nor Roman Ż. has been convicted in the Zondacrypto proceedings. Their legal status remains that of suspects while prosecutors collect evidence and the courts consider detention requests.

Poland’s crypto rules remain disputed

The case has entered Poland’s debate over how the country should apply the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework. Proposed domestic legislation would have made the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, known as the KNF, the national supervisor for crypto companies.

On Sept. 4, Poland’s lower house fell 25 votes short of overriding President Karol Nawrocki’s third veto of the bill. The Poland crypto bill vote ended with 241 lawmakers supporting the override, 198 opposing it and three abstaining, below the 266 votes required.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk referred to testimony from the Zondacrypto investigation while urging lawmakers to support the legislation. Nawrocki has said he favors rules against fraud and financial crime but considers the government-backed proposal too restrictive for legitimate crypto businesses.

For U.S. users, the Polish criminal case and licensing dispute do not change access to American exchanges, spot crypto exchange-traded funds, or other U.S.-regulated investment products. The proceedings concern alleged conduct tied to a Polish-run, Estonian-registered exchange and enforcement actions taken by European authorities.

MiCA already applies across the European Union, with national regulators responsible for licensing, supervision and enforcement. Its transition period ended on July 1, leaving firms without authorization subject to service restrictions or an orderly closure.

The Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated events on the UAE calendar, bringing together motorsport, luxury, business and entertainment at Yas Marina Circuit.

For the 2026 season finale, Crypto Breaking News and Web3 Digital can now provide access to an exclusive Sunday hospitality experience at the W Garage Terrace at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, designed for executives, investors, entrepreneurs, corporate guests and VIP clients looking to experience Formula 1 from a premium setting.

Located directly alongside the circuit, the W Garage Terrace offers an exceptional race-day environment combining close-up Formula 1 action with premium hospitality, networking and the distinctive atmosphere of Yas Marina.

Experience the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from the W Garage Terrace

The W Garage Terrace offers an open-air vantage point overlooking Turns 12 and 13, placing guests close to the action while providing views across Yas Marina and its iconic superyachts.

The experience has been designed to combine the excitement of the Formula 1 season finale with a more intimate and sophisticated hospitality environment, making it particularly suitable for corporate entertainment, client engagement and private networking.

What the Experience Includes

• Exclusive Sunday access to the W Garage Terrace at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island
• Premium views of the Formula 1 action around Turns 12 and 13
• Dedicated terrace and lounge seating
• Premium international dining throughout the experience
• Champagne service and premium beverages
• Curated social and networking areas
• Live entertainment and DJ sets
• Access to the unique W Abu Dhabi atmosphere during race weekend
• Post-race concert access, depending on the applicable ticket category

A Premium Setting for Business and Networking

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has become much more than a motorsport event. Every year, it attracts international entrepreneurs, investors, executives, celebrities and decision-makers to Abu Dhabi for one of the region’s most important lifestyle and networking weekends.

For companies operating in crypto, Web3, fintech, trading, investment and digital assets, premium Formula 1 hospitality can also provide an alternative environment for building relationships with clients and partners outside the traditional conference setting.

The experience can be particularly suitable for:

• Crypto exchanges and trading platforms hosting VIP clients
• Web3 and fintech companies entertaining partners or executives
• Private investors and high-net-worth individuals
• Corporate leadership and incentive programmes
• Family offices and investment companies
• International founders and entrepreneurs visiting the UAE
• Brands looking for premium client-engagement experiences

Corporate and Group Hospitality

Companies interested in bringing multiple guests can also request tailored corporate and group arrangements.

Depending on the size of the group and specific requirements, additional services and hospitality elements can be arranged to create a more personalised experience for clients, executives or strategic partners.

For larger corporate requirements, bespoke options can be explored individually based on availability.

More Than Just a Formula 1 Ticket

This experience is designed for guests looking for more than simply attending the race.

The combination of premium track views, hospitality, dining, entertainment and networking creates an opportunity to experience the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from one of Yas Marina’s most distinctive locations.

Previous editions of the Garage Terrace experience have welcomed hundreds of guests, combining premium race viewing with elevated dining, free-flowing beverages and the atmosphere of the Formula 1 finale at Yas Marina.

Limited Availability for Abu Dhabi F1 2026

Hospitality inventory for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is limited and availability can change quickly as the race weekend approaches.

For this reason, current availability must be confirmed before any booking can be finalised.

Pricing is available privately upon request.

Individuals, companies and corporate groups interested in the W Garage Terrace experience can contact us directly with the number of guests and any specific hospitality requirements.

Premium Access to Other Global Sporting Events

Through our international hospitality network, Web3 Digital and Crypto Breaking News can also assist clients looking for premium access to other major sporting and live entertainment events worldwide.

Opportunities can include Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends, Grand Slam tennis, international football, major cricket events, concerts and bespoke VIP experiences.

If you are planning to attend a major international event and are looking for premium hospitality or hard-to-access experiences, our team can check available options based on your requirements.

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Request Abu Dhabi F1 Hospitality Availability

To request current availability, private rates or corporate hospitality options for the 2026 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, contact:

Web3 Digital / Crypto Breaking News
Email: hello@web3digital.ae
Website: www.web3digital.ae

Availability and hospitality options are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.