Ben Pasternak, founder of the crypto platform Believe, has been arrested in New York and charged with second-degree strangulation and assault. Pasternak has entered a not guilty plea, and the case is scheduled to return to court on June 11.
Charges tied to a March 31 incident
According to the available report, the charges stem from an altercation on March 31 involving Pasternak and his former girlfriend, Evelyn Ha. The source material does not provide further details about the incident itself, and the allegations remain subject to court review as the case proceeds through the legal system.
Prosecutors link hotel stay to civil lawsuit avoidance
Prosecutors also alleged that Pasternak had been staying at the Baccarat Hotel in New York, where nightly rates were said to be around $2,000. They claim that part of the reason for the stay was to avoid service in a civil lawsuit connected to his crypto project, Believe. That assertion reflects the prosecution's position and has not been presented here as a final judicial finding.
Earlier Believe-related litigation resurfaces
The arrest has also renewed attention on Pasternak’s earlier legal entanglements tied to meme coins on the Believe platform. The report notes that he had previously been involved in litigation related to meme-coin activity associated with the project. In crypto, legal troubles involving a founder can quickly spill over into broader concerns around platform governance, compliance, and credibility.
At this stage, the case remains an unresolved legal matter. For market participants, the key distinction is that criminal charges do not amount to a conviction. Still, the developments may intensify scrutiny of Believe and its past controversies as both the criminal and civil dimensions continue to unfold.