The Czech coalition government narrowly avoided a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, securing its position despite less than half of the parliamentary votes being in favor. The controversy originates from a Bitcoin scandal that has captured national attention.
After two days of rigorous debate within the lower house of Parliament, a total of 94 opposition party members voted to oust the current administration. To succeed, the opposition needed to rally at least 101 votes from the 200-member assembly, a goal they ultimately fell short of achieving.
This marks the fourth attempt to unseat the coalition government since it took power four years ago, indicating ongoing tensions within the political landscape.
With parliamentary elections anticipated in early October, the opposition appears well-positioned to potentially regain power, heightening the stakes for the current government.
The turmoil escalated earlier this year when Justice Minister Pavel Blažek accepted a substantial donation in Bitcoin, later selling it for approximately $45.8 million. Questions surrounding the origins of this donation began to surface, ultimately leading to Blažek’s resignation at the month’s end, prompted by mounting opposition scrutiny.
The opposition, spearheaded by the centrist ANO (YES) movement and influential billionaire Andrej Babiš, formally requested the no-confidence vote with the intention of unseating the government.
In the wake of Blažek’s departure, Eva Decroix, previously deputy chair of the Civic Democratic Party, has been appointed as the new Minister of Justice, as the government seeks stability amidst the controversy.
Source: Ministry of Justice, Twitter
What Prompted the Controversy Over Bitcoin?
The catalyst for these developments was Blažek’s acceptance of a large Bitcoin donation in March 2025 from lawyer Tomas Jirikovsky, a convicted criminal. Jirikovsky, who previously operated the Sheep Marketplace, had been incarcerated for multiple offenses, including embezzlement and illegal trade of weapons.
Concerns have been raised regarding the legitimacy of the cryptocurrency donation, especially since Blažek did not conduct adequate checks to ascertain its origins. Although Blažek has publicly denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had no means to investigate Jirikovsky’s past, the opposition continues to question the donation’s legitimacy.
During legal proceedings, speculation arose that the Bitcoins may have originated from Nucleus, a dark web marketplace that ceased operations shortly after Jirikovsky’s arrest. Additionally, financial analysts noted that a batch of Nucleus-associated Bitcoins, dormant since 2016, suddenly transferred to new wallets in March, further deepening the mystery.
Jirikovsky contended that he acquired the Bitcoins through legal means and refuted claims of any illicit activities linked to the funds. Meanwhile, Blažek stated he never committed to any exchanges for the donation, underlining the complexities of the situation.
