CryptoSpain / Alvaro Romillo / Madeira Invest Club
Summary
Álvaro Romillo Castillo, a Spanish cryptocurrency influencer operating publicly as 'CryptoSpain,' was arrested on November 6, 2025, by Spain's Civil Guard under Operation PONEI on charges of large-scale fraud, money laundering, and criminal organization in connection with the Madeira Invest Club (MIC), an alleged Ponzi scheme that authorities say defrauded over 3,000 investors of approximately €260 million (roughly $300 million USD) between early 2023 and September 2024. A Spanish National Court judge ordered Romillo held without bail citing flight risk, and the case has acquired a political dimension following revelations of an alleged undisclosed €100,000 cash transfer from Romillo to far-right MEP Luis 'Alvise' Pérez Fernández days before the June 2024 European elections. Romillo faces up to 18 years in prison if charges are classified as mass offenses.
Connected Entities
1 entities · 10 linked investigations- + 3 more
Timeline(13 events)
2023-01-01
Madeira Invest Club launches, marketed as a private investment group offering 20–53% annual returns through contracts linked to digital art, luxury goods, and crypto assets.
CoinDesk, CoinLive, Brave New Coin2023-05-01
Spain's CNMV issues a formal public warning that Madeira Invest Club lacks authorization to operate as a collective investment institution. The scheme continues operating.
Brave New Coin, Born2Invest2024-03-01
According to Spanish prosecutors, MEP Luis 'Alvise' Pérez contacts Álvaro Romillo requesting assistance setting up a cryptocurrency wallet to receive anonymous campaign donations of €300,000–€360,000.
Euronews2024-05-27
Álvaro Romillo allegedly transfers €100,000 in cash to MEP Luis 'Alvise' Pérez, days before the European Parliament elections. The transfer is alleged to be undisclosed and in violation of Spanish campaign finance law.
Euronews, RussSpain2024-06-06
Two companies linked to the MIC network — 'Wortned' (owner: Álvaro Romillo) and 'Wortonova' (owner: Mihaela Munteanu Manole; administrator: Domingo Romillo Iriarte) — are registered in Tirana, Albania.
VoxNews Albania2024-09-01
Madeira Invest Club ceases operations. Investors begin reporting blocked withdrawals and file complaints with Spanish authorities.
Brave New Coin, Yahoo Finance2024-09-27
MEP Alvise Pérez publicly admits on Telegram to receiving €100,000 in cash from Romillo 'as a freelancer without an invoice.' Spain's Supreme Court prosecutors open a separate investigation into Pérez for illegal campaign financing.
Euronews2025-01-01
Albanian company 'Wortned,' owned by Álvaro Romillo, is temporarily suspended by Albanian authorities.
VoxNews Albania2025-10-02
Albania's Special Court authorizes seizure of both Albanian MIC-linked companies ('Wortned' and 'Wortonova').
VoxNews Albania2025-10-15
Albanian company 'Wortonova,' administered by Domingo Romillo Iriarte, formally ceases operations.
VoxNews Albania2025-11-06
Álvaro Romillo Castillo is arrested by Spain's Civil Guard under Operation PONEI, in coordination with Europol and law enforcement from the US, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
CoinDesk, The Block, Yahoo Finance2025-11-07
Romillo appears before the Audiencia Nacional. Judge José Luis Calama orders him held without bail in provisional prison, citing flight risk and the discovery of €29 million in a Singapore bank account. Romillo claims he has repaid approximately 2,700 investors in cash but provides no documentation.
Yahoo Finance, Brave New Coin, RussSpain2025-12-16
Private prosecution counsel in the MIC case publicly praises the work of Judge Calama, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the UCO, indicating the formal proceedings are progressing before the Audiencia Nacional.
ConfilegalDecision Log
- hash: FAWVTNS9gsYu5mu3xusVMPQDJ61N8itUfsTZUVi8A7sN
This investigation is cryptographically anchored to the Solana blockchain and source URLs are archived via the Internet Archive.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 5/31/2026, 7:34:57 AM
last updated: 5/31/2026, 7:36:08 AM
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