What happened to Benjamin Pasternak and the Believe platform?

Benjamin Pasternak, founder of the Solana-based token launchpad Believe, was arrested and charged with strangulation and assault over a March 31 incident. He has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court in June. The arrest adds to existing legal issues tied to his crypto business activities.

What criminal charges is Benjamin Pasternak facing?

Pasternak faces one count of second-degree strangulation and two counts of third-degree assault with intent to cause physical injury. These are serious criminal charges that could lead to significant legal consequences if proven in court. The case is separate from his civil crypto-related disputes.

What are the allegations in the lawsuit against Believe and Pasternak?

A class action lawsuit alleges Pasternak misled investors by claiming “zero ownership” of tokens while still collecting fees and breaking buyback promises. It also claims a token migration diluted holders by about 33%. Plaintiffs argue these actions caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

How much money was involved in the Believe platform?

The Believe platform reportedly processed around $6 billion in trading volume and generated about $54 million in fees. These figures highlight the scale of the project and why the legal case is significant for investors. Large financial flows increase scrutiny from regulators and courts.

What happened to the Believe token price?

The Believe token has collapsed roughly 99.8% from its peak of $0.35 in May 2025 to about $0.0007. It also dropped nearly 15% in a single day following the latest developments. This reflects severe loss of investor confidence and liquidity.

What is the controversy around the token migration?

The lawsuit claims a token migration in October 2025 diluted holders by around 33% and wiped out balances for users who didn’t convert in time. This is a major issue because it directly impacted investor holdings. Such events often trigger legal action in crypto markets.

What is the KLED token dispute involving Pasternak?

Pasternak was accused by Kled founder Avi Patel of selling tokens on the open market despite an agreement to trade only over-the-counter (OTC). The Kled team reportedly had to buy back his position twice to reduce his stake. This adds to concerns about his trading behaviour.

How might this affect the Solana (SOL) ecosystem?

While this case is specific to Believe, it could negatively impact sentiment around smaller Solana-based projects. Investors may become more cautious about token launchpads and early-stage tokens. However, it does not directly affect Solana’s core network fundamentals.

Solana Believe founder faces assault charges lawsuit

Written by Jon CuthbertPublished Apr. 24 2026Last Updated Apr. 23 2026

Benjamin Pasternak, founder of the Solana-based token launchpad Believe, has been arrested and charged with assault and strangulation following a March 31 incident in New York.

Prosecutors charged Pasternak with one count of second-degree strangulation and two counts of third-degree assault, while he has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court in June.

“Our team is personally concerned by the public reports of domestic violence involving Ben Pasternak,”

Said Max Burwick, founder of Burwick Law.

The arrest compounds mounting legal pressure after a class action lawsuit filed in March accused Pasternak of misleading investors about token ownership and executing transactions that allegedly diluted holders by about 33%.

The complaint claims the platform processed roughly $6 billion in trading volume and generated an estimated $54 million in fees while repeating similar token strategies across multiple projects, including $PASTERNAK, $LAUNCHCOIN and $BELIEVE.

Additional allegations from Avi Patel, founder of Kled, accuse Pasternak of breaching an OTC agreement by selling tokens on the open market, prompting buybacks that reduced his stake.

The BELIEVE token has collapsed 99.8% from its May 2025 peak, reflecting broader fallout from the controversy and ongoing legal challenges surrounding the platform.

At the time of reporting, Solana price was $85.95.