Bitcoin Bribery Case Shakes Czech Politics
Czech police have arrested Tomas Jirikovsky, the founder of the darknet marketplace Sheep Marketplace, in connection with a 468 BTC (worth $45 million at the time) donation that led to the resignation of former Justice Minister Pavel Blazek earlier this year.
Chief State Prosecutor Radim Dragoun confirmed that authorities were “securing people and things” in the investigation, which has now been separated into an independent criminal proceeding.
The Rooftop Arrest
Local media reported that Jirikovsky attempted to evade police capture during a Thursday night raid by climbing onto the roof of his home.
- His ex-wife confirmed the incident, saying a neighbor alerted her to the rooftop drama.
- Police eventually detained him and took him into custody.
From Darknet to Prison — and Back
Jirikovsky, a Czech programmer, launched Sheep Marketplace in early 2013, facilitating drug trafficking, weapons sales, and counterfeit goods.
Key points from his criminal past:
- Earned an estimated 680 BTC from the marketplace operations.
- Stole an additional 841 BTC when shutting down the platform in December 2013.
- Sentenced to nine years in prison in 2017 for embezzlement, drug trafficking, and illegal arms possession.
- Released on parole in 2021 after serving half his sentence.
Authorities never recovered his suspected 1,500+ BTC fortune.
The Bitcoin Donation That Sparked a Scandal
In May 2025, Blazek faced public outrage for accepting a massive Bitcoin donation from a convicted drug dealer. Local reports tied the funds to Nucleus, another darknet marketplace linked to Jirikovsky.
Blockchain analytics by Arkham Intelligence also showed a $77.5M BTC transaction from a Nucleus wallet in March 2025 — the first activity from the address in nine years.
Expert Commentary: “Bitcoin is Traceable”
Lucien Bourdon, a Bitcoin analyst at Trezor, said Jirikovsky’s arrest proves that criminal Bitcoin activity is traceable onchain:
“Large transfers can be traced forever. Imagine if every fiat transaction involving governments was just as visible. That’s the kind of accountability we should strive for.”
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Final Word
Jirikovsky’s case underscores the tension between crypto’s transparency and its misuse in criminal networks.
While Bitcoin can be abused for illegal purposes, it also offers unprecedented transparency — a double-edged sword that law enforcement and honest users alike are learning to navigate.