Krzysztof Stanowski, creator of Kanał Zero, found himself at the centre of controversy after his links to Uncensor VPN came to light. What started as a service promotion quickly escalated into a scandal involving accusations of money laundering and shady dealings. Here is the full chronology of events, from beginning to end.
Beginnings of the partnership: VPN ad as "zero censorship"
It all began at the end of October 2025, when Krzysztof Stanowski announced on the platform X (formerly Twitter) that Kanał Zero was partnering with Uncensor VPN. In a post from 31 October he wrote: “ZERO censorship. ZERO blocks. Kanał Zero joins forces with Uncensor VPN. We are starting a partnership that will last until the end of 2026. Want to watch, listen and read without limits? Use code ZERO1 to get an 80 zł discount on @UncensorVPN”. The post quickly gained traction, collecting hundreds of thousands of views and positive reactions. Stanowski promoted the service as a secure way to get around internet blocks, a perfect fit for Kanał Zero’s image as a censorship-free medium.
Uncensor VPN advertised itself as a “white label” of a large VPN provider, meaning it uses the infrastructure of a well-known brand but operates under its own name. Registered in Panama, it promised anonymity and no user logs. Initially, the partnership looked like a standard sponsorship deal, and similar ads also appeared in mainstream media such as RMF FM, Interia and Polityka.
Online storm: Revelations about the company's owner
The situation changed at the beginning of November, when internet users started digging into the story. It turned out that Uncensor VPN was backed by Jakub Kurek, a figure well known in the cryptocurrency scene and in controversial businesses. Users on X, such as @moshetonychin and @8ucz3k, published threads exposing Kurek’s links to Coincher, a company that in December 2024 was fined 60,000 zł by the Ministry of Finance for failing to verify transactions for money laundering and terrorist financing risks.
Further investigation showed that Kurek had previously been linked to a service offering pirated film streams and to platforms promoting sexual services. One post on X stressed: “Jakub Kurek, the owner of UncensorVPN promoted by Stanowski, was the owner of Coincher. […] Coincher was also a sponsor of KTS Weszło, Stanowski’s football club”. It was through KTS Weszło that Stanowski got to know Kurek, as a shareholder who sponsored the team.
Criticism intensified when cybersecurity experts warned against installing the VPN. The portal Wirtualne Media reported: “Kanał Zero takes heat over VPN ads. Behind them a pirate service and controversial advertising”. Internet users accused Stanowski of failing to vet his partner, and some even suggested the partnership was being used to “launder dirty money”.
Konopskyy's video: The bombshell that shook the internet
The affair reached its peak with a video by YouTuber Mikołaj Tylko, known as Konopskyy, published on 11 November 2025 under the title “Kanał Zero used to launder dirty money?”. In the video, Konopskyy detailed Uncensor VPN’s links to Jakub Kurek, including his earlier businesses related to piracy and prostitution. The YouTuber argued that the company could be used to legitimise illegal income through massive, fictitious transactions.
The video quickly garnered millions of views and sparked a wave of comments. Konopskyy, known for his journalistic investigations, stressed that Kanał Zero was not the only medium advertising a VPN, but as the biggest influencer in Polish internet, Stanowski bore particular responsibility. Reactions were mixed: some praised Konopskyy for his thoroughness, while others accused him of sensationalism.
Stanowski's response: Suspending the partnership and defending himself
Initially, Stanowski played down the allegations, responding to criticism with humour. For example, when asked about the VPN in Argentina, he replied: “If someone can’t tell Argentina from Brazil, then VPN is the least of their life problems”. However, after Konopskyy’s video, the pressure became too great.
On 12 November 2025, Stanowski published a lengthy post on X addressing the affair. He admitted he knew Kurek from his time at KTS Weszło, but stressed that their acquaintance was superficial: “I met Jakub Kurek […] because he bought shares in the KTS Weszło club. […] We probably saw each other about four times in my life”. He defended the VPN service as technically solid, but admitted that “the historical activities of this person, unrelated to the VPN, bother me”.
His key statement: “If the owner of Uncensor establishes his credibility with the online community and stops generating controversy, we will return to cooperation. If he doesn’t – ads for this VPN will not appear on Kanał Zero”. Stanowski criticised the title of Konopskyy’s video as “a complete slander”, arguing there was no evidence of money laundering through Kanał Zero. He also argued the affair was an attempt to undermine his medium’s credibility: “This is an obvious, yet another attempt to find some kind of dirt on us”.
Political echoes and the wider context
The affair did not go unnoticed in politics. Roman Giertych intervened with the Ministry of Justice, calling for the connections to be examined. Eliza Michalik and other commentators suggested that Kanał Zero may have unwittingly become entangled in shady dealings. Stanowski announced lawsuits against those spreading slander.
According to Stanowski, Kurek himself believes the accusations are revenge by a former partner who runs a competing cryptocurrency business. So far, there is no indictment against Kurek, and he has not lived in Poland for years.
A lesson for influencers?
The VPN affair shows how quickly a reputational crisis can erupt in the age of social media. Stanowski, defending himself against the pressure, suspended the partnership but did not close the door for good. For Konopskyy, it is a successful investigation that forced a response. Is this the end of the story? It all depends on further explanations from Kurek and any actions by the authorities. One thing is certain: in the Polish internet, vetting business partners has become mandatory.
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