The Missing Cryptoqueen

It’s been eight years since Dr Ruja Ignatova persuaded millions to join her financial revolution, before disappearing. Jamie Bartlett picks up the story of the now FBI-wanted fugitive; following a trail of greed, deceit, and herd madness.

The search for Dr Ruja Ignatova takes an unexpected turn when a story emerges alleging she's been murdered. But with with sightings of Dr Ruja still coming in long after her apparent demise, can it be true? We speak to the Bulgarian journalists behind the story and team up with BBC colleagues to investigate the murder theory. It takes us on a trail to a Bulgarian man widely suspected of heading an organised crime organisation. Meanwhile, a trusted former adviser to Dr Ruja disappears, just like his old boss.
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producer: Rob Byrne
Executive Producer: Georgia Catt
Commissioner: Dylan Haskins
Series Editor: Philip Sellars
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Featuring material from: LiveNow from Fox, Radio 100,7.
The Missing Cryptoqueen is a BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Sounds and BBC 5Live

How mysterious friends in influential places may have helped Ruja stay one step ahead. A massive revelation we only now know, but which Ruja knew years earlier.
Who are they? And could they be helping her now?
CREDITS
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producers: Rob Byrne and Georgia Catt
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Studio Engineer: Giles Aspen
Series Editor: Philip Sellars
Commissioner: Dylan Haskins
The Missing Cryptoqueen is a BBC Documentaries production for BBC Sounds and BBC 5Live

The search for Dr Ruja Ignatova gathers pace, five years after she disappeared. Files leaked from Dubai reveal how Dr Ruja stashed millions in the emirate and struck up a relationship with a mysterious sheikh. Then, a careless selfie leads the podcast to a mansion in an exclusive gated community. As the FBI steps up its search, new information surfaces about Dr Ruja’s disappearance from an unlikely source.
Presenter: Jamie Bartlett
Producers: Rob Byrne and Georgia Catt
Series Producer: Georgia Catt
Commissioner: Dylan Haskins
Series Editor: Philip Sellars
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
Featuring footage from: LiveNow from Fox, 5en News, Prag News, Welt Netzreporter
The Missing Cryptoqueen is a BBC Documentaries production for BBC Sounds and BBC 5Live

The search for Dr Ruja is back on. A lot has happened since Episode 8.
Original music and sound design: Phil Channell
Original Music and vocals: Dessislava Stefanova and the London Bulgarian Choir
This audio was updated on 12/08/2020 to reflect additional correspondence with Chelgate.