Spain's National Court has authorized police to seize any cryptocurrency found in wallets or exchange accounts linked to suspects in the investigation into the €53mn state rescue of airline Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a court order.
Spanish Court Orders Crypto Wallet Seizures in Corruption Probe
23 May 2026 - 00:30 CEST
By Matt Neill
The ruling by Judge José Luis Calama on 18 May allows the police to confiscate Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC) and other digital assets found in wallets associated with individuals under investigation.
The order is part of a broader probe into alleged influence peddling, money laundering and organized criminal activity involving former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and several associates.
Cryptocurrencies are increasingly appearing in corruption and financial crime investigations across Europe. Prosecutors and anti-money laundering units are devoting greater resources to tracing blockchain transactions, securing digital wallets and monitoring offshore crypto transfers as digital assets become more integrated into cross-border financial activity.
Crypto seizure powers expand
The court order authorizes investigators to transfer virtual currencies into wallets controlled by law enforcement or to secure control of exchange accounts by changing account credentials. The ruling stated that cryptoassets could be relevant to potential civil liabilities arising from the investigation.
Spanish authorities suspect digital assets may have been used to move or conceal funds linked to alleged influence operations surrounding the Plus Ultra bailout. Investigators are also examining financial structures tied to entities outside Spain, including companies connected to Dubai.
The court filing described an alleged network structured to obtain economic benefits through political access and intermediary arrangements. Investigators cited communications and financial records obtained through Spanish police units and data shared by US law enforcement agencies.
Zapatero is scheduled to appear before the court again on 2 June.
Crypto fraud to political investigations
The crypto component of the Plus Ultra case follows several large digital asset investigations overseen by Spain's National Court in recent years. Calama previously led proceedings tied to Arbistar, a crypto investment platform accused of defrauding roughly 32,000 investors of more than €100mn.
Security company Prosegur is expected to provide custody infrastructure for seized assets through offline storage systems designed for judicial use, according to local media reports.
