Bitpanda Names Alexander Zverev as Global Ambassador Amid Controversy Over Past Allegations

Bitpanda has just named German tennis star Alexander Zverev as its new global ambassador. Zverev, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, is an Olympic gold medalist and has reached the finals of major tournaments twice.

This move is likely to raise the profile of the ten-year-old Austrian crypto exchange. However, it may also draw criticism due to the ongoing issues of gender equity in the crypto space.

Zverev has faced serious allegations from two former girlfriends. One of these cases was reported to the German police. In June, Zverev settled this case out of court. Bitpanda and Zverev’s representatives did not respond to requests for comments about his hiring. This comes at a time when the crypto industry is dealing with a sexual abuse scandal.

A woman named Hana accused a partner at DWF Labs, a crypto market-making firm, of drugging her at a bar in Hong Kong. DWF subsequently fired this partner, Eugene Ng. Hana wants to raise awareness about the harassment culture affecting women in finance, tech, and crypto.

Brenda Patea, Zverev’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child, accused him of pushing her against a wall and choking her in 2020. These allegations surfaced last year when the Berlin public prosecutor sought a penalty order against Zverev. Under German law, prosecutors can request this if they believe the evidence is strong.

Zverev has denied these allegations, stating, “I completely reject the allegations.” In October 2023, a German court issued a €450,000 penalty order against him. Zverev challenged this order, leading to a trial earlier this year. Ultimately, both parties agreed to settle in June. Zverev paid €200,000, with most of that going to the state treasury and the rest to nonprofits.

A spokesperson for the court clarified that this decision was not a verdict and did not determine guilt or innocence. Zverev, however, saw it differently. He said, “That is innocence. They’re not going to drop the case if you’re guilty at the end of the day.” He expressed a desire to move on from the topic, stating, “I never ever want to hear another question about the subject again.”

The Association of Tennis Professionals funded an independent investigation that found insufficient evidence to support the published allegations of abuse.

Aleks Gilbert is a DeFi correspondent based in New York. If you have a tip, you can reach him at aleks@dlnews.com.