Roman Zimian’s Arrest Unravels International Scheme: Crypto Kingpin Caught

Zimian and his business partner Stefan Morgenstern founded FutureNet in 2014, initially offering digital advertising packages before introducing a cryptocurrency called FutureCoin. However, in 2022, Interpol exposed the venture as a “large-scale international pyramid scheme” and announced the arrests of its founders in Greece and Italy. After escaping house arrest—Morgenstern in Greece and Zimian in Italy—authorities recaptured Morgenstern in Albania in 2023.

Radio Slobodna Evropa reports that Zimian will appear before the investigating judge of the High Court in Podgorica to determine the next steps in his extradition proceedings.

Montenegro is currently experiencing another high-profile crypto-related legal drama with the ongoing extradition saga of Terra co-founder Do Kwon. Involved in a jurisdictional dispute between the U.S. and South Korea, Kwon faces extradition requests from both nations after his incarceration in Montenegro for travelling with forged documents. Authorities in both countries are seeking to bring him to justice for charges related to the 2022 collapse of the Terra ecosystem.

Earlier this month, the Montenegro Appellate Court reaffirmed its decision to extradite Kwon to South Korea. However, the court has delayed executing this decision while it reviews procedural matters.