Aiden Pleterski, the 27-year-old who styled himself as Canada’s “Crypto King,” will represent himself at a Toronto jury trial starting Monday on fraud and money laundering charges after a judge refused to postpone the case.
Judge rejects adjournment request
According to CBC News, Ontario Superior Court Justice Shaun Nakatsuru denied an adjournment application on Monday, leaving Pleterski without counsel for a four-week trial. The trial dates had been fixed in June 2025.
Nakatsuru told Pleterski, “I want to assure you that even though this isn’t your first choice, obviously, you will receive a fair trial.” He also said, “I want you to be very free in asking questions,” and added, “Don’t hesitate, just get up on your feet and ask me.”
The judge said he would take on an “enhanced role” because Pleterski is acting for himself. That includes raising objections on Pleterski’s behalf so that only admissible evidence is put before the jury.
What Pleterski argued in seeking a delay
Pleterski did retain a lawyer for the adjournment application. Marco Sciarra told the court that his client had been trying to raise money for trial counsel and that extended family members were prepared to liquidate assets to pay for one if the case was delayed.
The court was not told who those relatives were or what assets were involved. Crown attorney Scott Patterson argued that Pleterski had not been “honest and genuine with his attempts to obtain counsel.” Nakatsuru did not give reasons for refusing the application.
Charges and related defendant
Pleterski was charged in May 2024 with fraud over $5,000 and laundering the proceeds of crime. The charges followed a joint investigation by Durham Regional Police and the Ontario Securities Commission, which police described as the force’s largest fraud inquiry.
An associate, Colin Murphy, was charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Murphy had been jailed for five months in February after being found in contempt for refusing to hand over his iPhone during a civil search and then wiping it. He was released in March pending appeal.
Bankruptcy proceedings and investor recovery
Pleterski denies the allegations, which have not been proven in court. In the summer of 2022, investors forced him into bankruptcy while trying to recover roughly $40 million they had given him to trade cryptocurrency and foreign exchange.
Those proceedings returned about $3 million to around 160 investors. Trustee Grant Thornton found that Pleterski had invested less than 2% of the money and spent nearly $16 million on himself. Pleterski disputes that finding.
2022 kidnapping case
Pleterski was kidnapped and tortured in late 2022 and held for a $3 million ransom by men demanding money he no longer had. One of the people charged in the abduction pleaded guilty last year.