Czech Justice Minister Resigns Over $45 Million Gift in Bitcoin

Pavel Blazek

Photographer: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned amid criticism that his ministry accepted a gift in Bitcoin from a convicted criminal and later sold the cryptocurrency for about 1 billion koruna ($45 million).

State prosecutors opened a probe into the matter, local media reported on Friday. Blazek said he decided to resign even though he wasn’t “aware of any illegal actions.”