Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek resigned on May 31, 2025, after accepting $45 million in Bitcoin from convicted dark web drug dealer Tomáš Jiříkovský. The massive crypto donation—nearly 500 Bitcoin—was supposed to fund justice system improvements and prison upgrades. Opposition politicians screamed money laundering, police launched investigations, and Blažek’s career imploded. The scandal erupted just months before October’s parliamentary elections, with corruption concerns now dominating headlines and potentially reshaping Czech politics entirely.
When you’re running a justice ministry, accepting $45 million in Bitcoin from a convicted drug trafficker probably isn’t the smartest move. Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek learned this the hard way when he resigned on May 31, 2025, amid a scandal that has the entire country talking.
The mess started with Tomáš Jiříkovský, a convicted criminal who served time for drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Jiříkovský was known for operating Sheep Marketplace on the dark web before his conviction. After his release in 2021, Jiříkovský decided to donate nearly 500 Bitcoin to the Czech Justice Ministry. The cryptocurrency was worth approximately $45 million. Talk about generous.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Authorities had originally seized this Bitcoin, then returned it to Jiříkovský after he claimed it was legally acquired. The Justice Ministry then sold the donated Bitcoin to private investors for nearly 1 billion Czech koruna. The money was supposedly earmarked for digitizing the justice system, combating drug use in prisons, and improving prison staff housing.
Authorities seized Bitcoin, returned it after criminal claimed legal ownership, then Justice Ministry sold it for nearly $45 million to fund system improvements.
The opposition wasn’t buying it. They accused Blažek of possible money laundering, questioning whether the Bitcoin actually came from criminal activities. The timing couldn’t be worse, with parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2025.
Blažek maintained he did nothing wrong but resigned anyway to protect the government’s reputation. Political responsibility, he called it. The ruling coalition praised his decision while opposition leaders demanded more heads to roll, including the Finance Minister and Prime Minister. Blažek was considered a close ally of Prime Minister Petr Fiala within both the government and their Civic Democratic Party.
Police and the High Prosecutor’s Office in Olomouc are now investigating potential money laundering and abuse of authority. They’re examining whether the Bitcoin originated from criminal activities and looking into possible narcotics offenses linked to the donation.
The scandal has created massive political tension across the Czech Republic. The main opposition party, ANO, is predicted to win the upcoming election. Media coverage has been relentless, with public outcry focusing on the ministry’s lack of due diligence.
The whole affair highlights broader concerns about corruption, government transparency, and cryptocurrency oversight. It also underscores the influence of dark web activities on legal systems. Sometimes the most expensive gifts come with the highest price tags.
