- Benjamin Pasternak is charged in New York with assault, but he denies all allegations.
- BELIEVE token plunged by more than 99% from its peak amid legal pressure.
- Earlier crypto allegations resurface, alleging token misuse and misleading activity.
Benjamin Pasternak, founder of the crypto project Believe App, has been charged in New York with assault-related offenses and will appear in court in June. The charges include strangulation and two counts of assault, following an alleged incident on March 31. He was arrested, pleaded not guilty, and denies all accusations.
The case is scheduled for June 11 at the New York Criminal Court. Reports say the incident may involve influencer and podcaster Evelyn Ha, who has not commented publicly. The news also came alongside a sharp drop in the BELIEVE token’s price.
Source: New Your Court System
Previous Crypto Allegations Resurface
The legal case comes alongside earlier accusations tied to Pasternak’s crypto project. A lawsuit filed by New York lawyer Max Burwick alleges that he ran a coordinated scheme involving tokens like BELIEVE, claiming the project earned fees while misleading investors.
These types of cases are often called “rug pulls,” where a token is heavily promoted before being abandoned by its creators. The claims are still being reviewed in court.
Reports also say the project involved tokens such as $PASTERNAK, $LAUNCHCOIN, and BELIEVE. The filings argue that how these tokens were promoted and structured raised concerns among investors before the latest legal issues emerged.
BELIEVE Token Suffers Sharp Decline
Market data shows the BELIEVE token has dropped to about $0.00076. This represents a decline of more than 99% from its peak of $0.3569 recorded in May 2025. Trading activity also fell sharply following reports of the indictment.
Analysts note that the token’s losses are significantly larger than those of the broader market. This suggests the decline is linked to project-specific developments rather than overall crypto trends.
Source: CoinGecko
Founder Risk
Notably, Pasternak previously gained attention as a young entrepreneur. He was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2021 after building Simulate, a plant-based food company, once valued at $US250 million ($349 million). He also launched earlier platforms, including Flogg and Monkey, before entering the crypto space.
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