Canadian 'Crypto King' Trial Heads to Jury

“Crypto King” Pleterski Claims Innocence as Jury Weighs Fraud Charges

Aiden Pleterski, who faces fraud charges in Canada in connection with an alleged digital asset Ponzi scheme, maintained his innocence as closing arguments concluded this week in his criminal trial.

The case against Pleterski, who styled himself as the “crypto king,” will now proceed to jury deliberations. According to CBC News reporting on Wednesday, the jury will begin its deliberations on Thursday after receiving final instructions from Justice Shaun Nakatsuru.

Pleterski is accused of defrauding his social media followers of approximately $30 million between 2021 and 2022. He was charged with fraud in 2024 and had been awaiting trial for over two years, during which time he opted to represent himself in court.

“I am innocent of these charges,” Pleterski stated, as reported by CBC. “That is why I pled not guilty. Had I not been forced to represent myself, that would have been proven. That’s all I have to say.”

If convicted, the fraud charge against the “crypto king” carries a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years. Pleterski is among several prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry to face fraud accusations, with some already having been convicted. Notably, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States following his 2023 fraud conviction.

In a separate criminal matter, five men, some of whom were reportedly victims of Pleterski’s alleged scheme, were charged in 2022 with kidnapping and torturing the “crypto king.” One of these men, Deren Akyeam-Pong, has pleaded guilty to nine charges and is awaiting sentencing.