Czech authorities have apprehended Tomas Jirikovsky, a programmer and former darknet operator, in connection with a controversial $45 million Bitcoin donation that sparked political turmoil in the country. This arrest follows the resignation of Justice Minister Pavel Blazek amid public pressure regarding the funds’ origins. Reports indicate Jirikovsky attempted to bribe Blazek with the Bitcoin donation to avoid a new sentence. A police raid confirmed his detention on Thursday, following reports he attempted to escape capture by scaling the roof of his home. 2013 saw Jirikovsky operating the Sheep Marketplace, a darknet platform facilitating illegal activities like drug trade, weapons sales, and counterfeit goods. The site eventually collapsed, leading to authorities uncovering at least 841 Bitcoin stolen from the platform alongside his earnings, resulting in a nine-year sentence in 2017 for embezzlement, drug trafficking, and unlawful arms possession. He was released on parole in 2021 after serving less than half his sentence. While Jirikovsky’s Bitcoin fortune remains largely unrecovered, authorities have linked him to a significant $468 BTC donation that led to the resignation of Minister Blazek. Investigations into blockchain-related fraud are intensifying, with countries like India cracking down on crypto use for drug trafficking and other nations restricting access to platforms like Tornado Cash. The aim is to mitigate criminal activity while maintaining crypto’s decentralized nature in its fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.