Krzysztof Stanowski, the creator of Channel Zero, was at the center of controversy after revealing links with Uncensor VPN. What started with the service promotion quickly turned into a scandal with allegations of money laundering and shady business. Here is a full chronology of events – from beginning to end.
Beginnings of cooperation: VPN advertising as "zero censorship"
It all started at the end of October 2025 when Krzysztof Stanowski announced on platform X (formerly Twitter) the cooperation of Channel Zero with the VPN Uncensor. In a post of October 31, he wrote: "WHERE censorship. Zero blocks. Channel Zero joins forces with Uncensor VPN. We are beginning to cooperate, which will continue until the end of 2026. Do you want to watch, listen and read without limit? With ZERO1 code you will receive a discount of 80 PLN on @UncensorVPN". Post quickly gained popularity, gathering hundreds of thousands of views and positive reactions. Stanowski promoted the service as a safe way to circumvent Internet blockades, perfectly matching the image of the Zero Channel as a free-of-censor medium.
Uncensor VPN has advertised itself as a "white label" of a large VPN provider, meaning that it uses the infrastructure of a known brand but operates under its own name. Registered in Panama, she promised anonymity and no user logs. Initially, cooperation seemed to be a standard sponsorship agreement – similar advertisements also appeared in mainstream media such as RMF FM, Interia or Politics.
Network Storm: Disclosures of the Company's Owner
The situation changed in early November when netizens began to dig into the subject. It turned out that Jakub Kurek – a character well known in the cryptocurrency and controversial business environment – was behind the VPN Uncensor. The users of the X platform, such as @moshetonymin and @8ecz3k, published threads revealing Kurka's ties to Coincher, which in December 2024 was punished by the Ministry of Finance with a penalty of PLN 60,000 for failing to fulfil the obligations of verification of transactions for money laundering and terrorist financing.
A further investigation showed that Kurek had previously been involved with a service offering pirated film streams and platforms promoting sexual services. One post on X emphasized: "Jakub Kurek, the owner of UncensorVPN promoted by Stanowski, was the owner of Coincher. [...] Coincher was also sponsor of KTS Entered – that is Stanowski's football club". It was from KTS club that Stanowski met Kurk – as a shareholder who sponsored the team.
Criticism intensified when cybersecurity experts warned against installing VPN. The Virtual Media portal reported: "The Zero Channel hits VPN ads. In the background pirate service and controversial announcements". Internet users accused Stanowski of failing to verify his partner, and some even suggested that cooperation is used to "wash dirty money".
Konopskyy's film: A bomb that shook the Internet
The culmination of the affair was the film by youtuber Nicholas Only, known as Konopskyy, published on 11 November 2025 under the title "Canal Zero used to launder money?". In Konopskyy's material, he described in detail the links of Uncensor VPN to Jakub Kurk, including his earlier piracy and prostitution businesses. Youtuber argued that the company could be used to legalize illegal income through mass, fictional transactions.
The film quickly gained millions of views and sparked a wave of comments. Konopskyy, known for his journalistic investigations, emphasized that Channel Zero is not the only medium advertising VPN, but as the largest influencer on the Polish Internet, Stanowski has a special responsibility. The reactions were mixed – some praised Konopskyy for his honesty, others accused him of being sensual.
Stanowski's reaction: Suspension of cooperation and defence
Initially Stanowski underestimated the charges, jokingly responding to criticism. For example, when asked about VPN in Argentina, he replied: "If someone does not distinguish Argentina from Brazil, VPN is his least life's problem". After Konopskyy's film, however, pressure became too much.
On 12 November 2025 Stanowski published a long post on X, in which he referred to the scandal. He admitted that he knew Kurk from the time of KTS He entered, but emphasized that their acquaintance was superficial: "Jakuba Kurka I met [...] because he bought shares in KTS club Entered. [...] We've probably seen each other four times." He defended VPN services as technically solid, but admitted that "I am disturbed by the historical activities of this person, unrelated to VPN".
Key statement: "If the owner of the Uncensor is credible in front of the Internet community and ceases to cause controversy, we will cooperate. If he doesn't do it – this VPN ads won't appear in Channel Zero". Stanowski criticized the title of Konopskyy's film as "total slander", arguing that there was no evidence of money laundering through Channel Zero. He also stressed that the scandal was an attempt to undermine the credibility of his medium: "It is obvious, another attempt to find a hook on us".
Political Emotions and the Broad Context
The scandal was not without echo in the world of politics. Roman Giertych intervened in the Ministry of Justice, demanding that connections be checked. Eliza Michalik and other commentators suggested that Channel Zero may have been unconsciously involved in shady business. Stanowski announced lawsuits against those who spread slander.
Kurek himself, according to Stanowski, considers prosecutions to be the revenge of a former partner running a competitive cryptocurrency business. So far, there is no indictment against Kurk, and he has not lived in Poland for years.
A lesson for influencers?
The VPN scandal shows how quickly a reputational crisis can erupt in the era of social media. Stanowski, defending himself against pressure, suspended his cooperation, but did not close the door for good. For Konopskyy, it was the success of an investigation that forced him to react. Is this the end of the story? Everything depends on further explanations of Kurk and any possible actions of the service. One thing is certain: on the Polish Internet, verification of business partners became obligatory.
