Former Justice Minister’s resignation tied to high-profile crypto corruption case
PRAGUE – Czech authorities have arrested Tomas Jirikovsky, the founder of the notorious darknet marketplace Sheep Marketplace, in connection with a $45 million Bitcoin bribery scandal that led to the resignation of former Justice Minister Pavel Blazek earlier this year.
Bitcoin donor attempts escape before police arrest
Jirikovsky reportedly tried to escape police by climbing onto the roof of his home during the raid on Thursday night, Deník N reported Friday.
His ex-wife confirmed the intervention, saying a neighbor alerted her to the rooftop drama. The police then apprehended Jirikovsky and took him into custody, the report said.
According to Chief State Prosecutor Radim Dragoun, police intervened Thursday in what he described as an ongoing criminal case “recently separated by the police authority for independent proceedings.” While the official statement avoided naming suspects, local media reported Jirikovsky’s arrest after he allegedly attempted to escape via his rooftop before being detained.
Authorities allege that Jirikovsky paid 468 BTC — valued at roughly $45 million at the time — to Minister Blazek in an effort to avoid a new prison sentence. The payment’s discovery earlier this year sparked a political scandal, forcing Blazek to step down.
Jirikovsky, a Czech programmer, is infamous for launching Sheep Marketplace in 2013, which was tied to drug trafficking, illegal arms sales, and counterfeit goods. He was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2017 for embezzlement and drug-related crimes, but was released on parole in 2021.
“While regular folks have good privacy options, if you’re a criminal or a government, Bitcoin isn’t great for moving money quietly,” said Lucien Bourdon, a Bitcoin analyst at Prague-based Trezor. “Large transfers can be traced forever — that’s the kind of accountability we should strive for.”
Blockchain trail still visible
Investigators linked the controversial donation to Nucleus, another darknet marketplace wallet reportedly connected to Jirikovsky. Blockchain data revealed that this wallet had been dormant for nine years before sending $77.5 million in Bitcoin in March 2025.
Authorities have never recovered the full extent of Jirikovsky’s Bitcoin holdings, believed to be far greater than the 1,500 BTC estimated during his trial.
The case underscores a growing reality in the cryptocurrency world: while Bitcoin transactions can bypass banks, they remain permanently traceable on the blockchain, creating an immutable record of financial flows — including those tied to corruption.
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