Founder of the Believe App: Assault and Second-Degree Murder

Benjamin Pasternak, the founder of the Solana-based Believe App, has been arrested and charged with second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault, according to public records from the New York Criminal Court. 

While some reports have referred to the charges as involving "second-degree murder," official New York Criminal Court records list the charges as second-degree strangulation (a felony) and third-degree assault (a misdemeanor).

The charges stem from an alleged violent incident, with Pasternak scheduled to appear in court on June 11, 2026.

The arrest marks a dramatic fall for a young entrepreneur who once raised millions and built a social-fi app on Solana. It also raises serious questions about founder accountability in the crypto space.

Key Takeaways

• Benjamin Pasternak, founder of Solana's Believe App, was arrested on charges of second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault. 

• He is scheduled to appear in New York Criminal Court on June 11, 2026.
   

• The BELIEVE token has collapsed over 99% from its May 2025 all-time high of $0.3569 to approximately $0.00075 — following civil fraud allegations and the founder's arrest.

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Who Is Benjamin Pasternak?

Benjamin Pasternak is an Australian entrepreneur who gained early fame as a teenage app developer. He created the Believe App, a Solana-based social platform that promised to integrate financial incentives with social media interactions — often described as "social-fi."

The Believe App positioned itself as a Web3 platform where users could earn tokens for engagement. 

At its peak in May 2025, the platform's native token, BELIEVE, reached an all-time high of $0.3569. But behind the scenes, trouble was brewing.

Pasternak Arrest and Criminal Charges

Founder of the Believe App in Solana, Benjamin Pasternak, was arrested following an investigation by New York authorities. The charges include:

• Second-degree strangulation: a serious violent felony

• Third-degree assault: a misdemeanor involving physical injury to another person

The New York Criminal Court has scheduled Pasternak's appearance for June 11, 2026. Specific details of the alleged incident have not been publicly released, but the charges indicate a violent altercation.

Polymarket, the prediction market platform, broke the news on X: "JUST IN: Believe app founder, Ben Pasternak, arrested for strangulation and criminal assault."

Previous Rug Pull Allegations

Before the arrest, Pasternak was already under scrutiny. He had been facing a civil class-action lawsuit alleging a multi-million dollar rug pull scheme and misleading investors of significant sums. 

The rug pull allegations, first reported by SolanaFloor and the Australian Financial Review, claim that Pasternak and related entities engaged in practices that constituted a token exit scam that left investors with worthless tokens.

The BELIEVE token has since collapsed. Currently trading at approximately $0.00075, the token is down more than 99% from its all-time high of $0.3569 reached in May 2025.

Assault and Second-Degree Murder by Founder Believe App

While the official charges are second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault, some lower-quality or translated reports have incorrectly described them as second-degree murder or manslaughter. 

However, court records explicitly list "second-degree strangulation" — not murder. Strangulation is a violent felony but distinct from homicide.

The confusion may stem from translation or sensationalized reporting. Nevertheless, the severity of the charges is clear: Pasternak faces potential prison time if convicted.

Read also : Binance Co-Founder WeChat Account Hacked in Memecoin Scam

Founder Case Impact on BELIEVE Token

The BELIEVE token has been in freefall. Data shows:

• Current price: ~$0.00075

• All-time high: $0.3569 (May 2025)

• Decline from ATH: Over 99%

• Trading volume: Minimal, with liquidity nearly evaporated

The token's collapse predates the arrest — The civil fraud allegations had already destroyed investor confidence. The criminal charges only accelerated the decline. As one Binance Square post noted: "BELIEVE token trades over 99% below peak."

The Problem of Founder Centralization

The troubles surrounding the Believe App illustrates a recurring risk in crypto: projects that are technically decentralized but founder-dependent in practice.

When a single founder controls the narrative, the treasury, or key decisions, that founder's personal conduct becomes an existential risk. 

Pasternak's legal troubles — regardless of the outcome — have rendered the Believe App effectively dead.

Investors who bought BELIEVE at its peak have lost nearly everything. The project has no active development, no community leadership, and no clear path forward.

What Happens Next?

Benjamin Pasternak is scheduled to appear in New York Criminal Court on June 11, 2026. Depending on the outcome, he could face:

• Prison time for felony strangulation and assault 

• Possible restitution or damages if the civil fraud lawsuit results in a judgment against him

• Civil lawsuits from defrauded investors

For BELIEVE token holders, the outlook is grim. With the founder incarcerated and facing serious charges, there is no one to lead the project. The token is functionally worthless.

Read also : The Fraud Triangle: Definition, Cases, and Analysis

Lessons for Crypto Investors

The Believe App saga offers several hard lessons:

• Research founders — Centralized projects are only as trustworthy as their leaders. Check legal histories and public records.

• Look for decentralized governance — Projects with DAOs, multi-sig treasuries, and distributed teams are more resilient to founder crises.

• Beware of celebrity founders — Past success (like Pasternak's teenage app fame) does not guarantee future integrity.

• Monitor token distribution — If a single entity controls supply or development, you are trusting that entity completely.

Read also : AI-Generated Crypto Scams Explained: How to Spot Fake Trading Bots and Signals

Conclusion

The arrest of Believe App founder Benjamin Pasternak on charges of second-degree strangulation and assault marks the end of a once-promising Solana project. 

Already reeling from rug pull allegations, the BELIEVE token has now collapsed over 99% from its peak. 

The founder's scheduled court appearance on June 11 will determine his legal fate — but for investors, the damage is already done.

This case serves as a stark reminder: in crypto, founder conduct matters. When a project's leader faces criminal charges, the token often follows.

FAQ

What is Believe App?

Believe App was a Solana-based social-fi platform where users could earn tokens for engagement. Its founder, Benjamin Pasternak, has now been arrested.

What are the charges against Benjamin Pasternak?

He has been charged with second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault, according to New York Criminal Court records.

What is the BELIEVE token price now?

BELIEVE is trading at approximately $0.00075, down over 99% from its all-time high of $0.3569 (May 2025).

Was there a rug pull?

Pasternak was previously accused of involvement in a multi-million dollar rug pull scheme. The allegations have not yet resulted in criminal charges.

When is Pasternak's court date?

He is scheduled to appear in New York Criminal Court on June 11, 2026.

Is the Believe App still operational?

The project appears abandoned. No active development or community leadership remains following the founder's arrest and token collapse.

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