Story perspectives

Tech Entrepreneur Ben Pasternak Arrested, Accused of Abuse, Crypto Lawsuit

4/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Influencer Evelyn Ha announced on YouTube she ended her relationship with Australian tech entrepreneur Ben Pasternak, citing boundary violations.
Australian tech entrepreneur Ben Pasternak was arrested in New York on second-degree strangulation and assault charges, pleading not guilty.
Public relations executive Dini von Mueffling said Pasternak denies Ha’s accusations.
A class-action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York alleges Pasternak’s crypto platform promoted $PASTERNAK, $LAUNCHCOIN and $BELIEVE, promised buybacks that never occurred.

History

Historical Context

After the 2017 ICO boom, regulators including the SEC identified many offerings that violated U.S. securities law, leading to lawsuits such as the 2022 class action against EthereumMax. The 2018 cryptocurrency crash further exposed fraudulent pump-and-dump schemes, and today courts in the Southern District of New York are hearing a new case over the PASTERNAK platform.

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Story summary

Influencer Evelyn Ha announced on YouTube she ended her relationship with Australian tech entrepreneur Ben Pasternak, citing boundary violations.
Australian tech entrepreneur Ben Pasternak was arrested in New York on second-degree strangulation and assault charges, pleading not guilty.
Public relations executive Dini von Mueffling said Pasternak denies Ha’s accusations.
A class-action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York alleges Pasternak’s crypto platform promoted $PASTERNAK, $LAUNCHCOIN and $BELIEVE, promised buybacks that never occurred.

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