Supreme Court judge blows up Alvise's attempt to make his cryptocurrencies untraceable

The Spanish Supreme Court judge, Julián Sánchez Melgar, has rejected a request by far-right European Parliament member Alvise Pérez to block police investigations into his cryptocurrency wallets. In a ruling dated July 30, the judge confirmed that authorities will proceed with tracking the virtual wallets used by Pérez to receive anonymous donations, which were intended to bypass oversight by the Court of Accounts. The decision was made following a petition filed by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), acting as the public prosecutor, which sought to ensure transparency in funding related to Pérez’s campaign for the European elections in 2024. Pérez had argued that the investigation should be halted because he did not possess the “seed phrase,” a cryptographic key necessary to access the funds stored in the wallets. He claimed this meant he never held legal ownership or control over the assets. However, the judge dismissed this argument, noting that Pérez had previously communicated with the businessman Álvaro Romillo, who created three cryptocurrency wallets to facilitate anonymous donations. These communications, revealed by elDiario.es, showed that Pérez had requested funds that would allow him to finance campaign activities without being subject to scrutiny by the Court of Accounts. In addition to tracking the cryptocurrency wallets, the judge ordered the retrieval of financial records from Pérez’s political party, Se Acabó la Fiesta (SALF). This includes accounting documents, balance sheets, inventory reports, income and expense statements, and other financial movements linked to the 2024 European election campaign. The court also required the Court of Accounts to provide its audit report and all documentation submitted by SALF regarding these elections. The judge emphasized that these measures align with the objectives of the case, as authorized by the European Parliament, which voted earlier this year to strip Pérez of immunity so he could face prosecution. The judge also noted that the PSOE's request to review Pérez’s personal bank accounts since 2023 remains pending. Pérez’s defense had argued that such a measure would be overly broad and intrusive, restricting the investigation to the period between April 9 and June 9, 2024, when SALF operated as an electoral group before officially registering as a political party. The judge clarified that the PSOE’s request has yet to be resolved. Furthermore, the judge ruled against Pérez’s attempt to expedite the process and move directly to trial. His defense had cited the “public exposure” and “personal disruption” caused by ongoing judicial proceedings. The judge rejected this appeal, maintaining that the case requires further investigation before proceeding to trial. According to police records obtained by elDiario.es, Pérez visited one of Romillo’s companies on May 27, 2024, to collect 100,000 euros in cash shortly before the start of the campaign. Romillo is already under investigation for alleged cryptocurrency fraud, and both men are implicated in the current case. The police report indicates that Pérez had expressed a need for funds that would not be subject to the Court of Accounts’ oversight, a claim supported by their exchanged messages. The investigation continues as the court awaits additional evidence and responses from the parties involved.