Who is Ben Pasternak? Australian entrepreneur arrested in New York after allegedly assaulting ex

Pasternak pleads not guilty to assault charges allegedly filed by Evelyn Ha amid legal scrutiny over crypto claims

Australian entrepreneur Ben Pasternak has been arrested in New York and charged with assault, just weeks after facing allegations linked to a cryptocurrency scheme.

The 26-year-old founder of food technology company Simulate is accused of strangling and assaulting a person, believed by internet users to be his ex girlfriend influencer Evelyn Ha, on March 31.

He was taken into custody on Tuesday and has been charged with one count of strangulation and two counts of assault with intent to cause physical injury.

evelyn is so rich and successful idk how these bummy men keep finding ol girl https://t.co/s4RBNhbcBm

— crystal (@novelltea) April 23, 2026

Pasternak has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to appear before the New York Criminal Court on June 11.

Public relations executive Dini von Mueffling, who identified herself as a friend of Pasternak, stated that his relationship with influencer Evelyn Ha ended on the same date as the alleged incident.

In a statement cited by the AFR, she said, “I am writing this statement on his behalf. Ben unilaterally denies the accusation Evelyn Ha has made against him.”

Pasternak rose to prominence after founding Simulate, a plant-based food company known for its chicken nugget products. The business achieved significant valuation and led to his inclusion in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list before it was sold in 2024.

In addition to the criminal case, Pasternak is also facing a civil lawsuit filed by investors alleging involvement in a cryptocurrency scheme. The case, brought by lawyer Max Burwick, claims a “co-ordinated campaign” involving multiple tokens, including $PASTERNAK, $LAUNCHCOIN and $BELIEVE.

The filing states, “Each iteration followed the same cycle: hype and promotional activity, rapid price appreciation, and catastrophic decline.”

Authorities have not confirmed whether the criminal charges are connected to the ongoing civil proceedings.