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Mitchell Learning, who was close to Aiden Pleterski during his rise as the “Crypto King,” testified in Toronto about discovering that millions of dollars from investors were missing from Pleterski’s trading accounts. Learning met Pleterski in 2014 and invested $400,000 with him by 2020, promoting Pleterski to friends and family. As an insider, Learning helped manage investor relations but grew concerned when investors could not reach Pleterski for withdrawals. In December 2021, he confronted Pleterski about the missing funds, leading to the collapse of their relationship and the exposure of what the prosecution claims was a Ponzi scheme.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Aiden Pleterski, self-proclaimed "Crypto King," began facing fraud charges in Toronto on June 18, 2024. Prosecutors allege that from July 2020 to July 2022, Pleterski ran a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme by promising investors weekly returns of up to 10% and guaranteeing their principal was safe. Instead, he allegedly used the funds for luxury cars, private jets, and personal expenses, amassing millions in credit card debt. Before his arrest in May 2024, Pleterski had amassed over $300 million from investors. The trial, which started on June 18, involves a jury of 14 people (with only 12 deliberating), with the case expected to last a month. Despite representing himself, Pleterski has expressed his need for legal representation during the proceedings.
Written for “Crypto King Fraud Trial” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Mitchell Learning’s ringside seat to the “Crypto King” lifestyle of luxury cars and private jets collapsed in 2022, when he cracked into Aiden Pleterski’s trading accounts and discovered that millions belonging to him and dozens of other investors wasn’t there.
asserted
millions → collapse → investors
Learning testified Friday at Pleterski’s criminal trial in a downtown Toronto courtroom in front of a jury.
asserted
Learning → testify → jury
Pleterski, 27, has pleaded not guilty to defrauding investors and money laundering and is representing himself.
asserted
Pleterski → plead → himself
Jurors spent much of the trial’s first week hearing a string of investors testify to how they first learned through friends, acquaintances and Pleterski’s social‑media presence that he had a knack for turning modest sums of money into exponential wealth through his savvy foreign exchange and cryptocurrency trading.
asserted
he → spend → exchange
The prosecution alleges it was a sham, and that Pleterski was operating a Ponzi scheme.
asserted
Pleterski → allege → scheme
Learning said he first met Pleterski playing baseball in 2014, and later sent him a message in 2020 after seeing him on Instagram posing with a Range Rover and a McLaren luxury vehicle.
asserted
he → learn → Rover
“He (Pleterski) told me he was trading ... Forex and crypto,” testified Learning, who runs his family’s Markham-based construction business.
asserted
who → tell → business
He was drawn into Pleterski’s orbit, investing $400,000 and encouraging his family and friends to do the same.
asserted
He → draw → same
As other investors this week testified, Learning said Pleterski told him his principal was guaranteed and he could expect weekly returns of between five and 10 per cent.
uncertain
he → testify → cent
Learning told jurors how he morphed from friend to trusted insider who handled bank drafts and acted as a go‑between with investors, while watching Pleterski add to his luxury car collection and move from his parents’ home in Whitby into an 8,000‑square‑foot mansion on Lake Ontario.
asserted
Pleterski → tell → Ontario
It was purchased through a vendor‑take‑back arrangement where the owner carries the mortgage, he explained to jurors.
asserted
he → purchase → jurors
Learning also joined Pleterski on private‑jet excursions, flying to Ohio to watch a boxing match, and to Florida and Turks and Caicos Islands for short trips — all arranged by Pleterski, he said.
asserted
he → join → Pleterski
For about six weeks, Learning told the court, Pleterski paid him about $2,000 a week to help him handle investors, some looking to withdraw money and others wanting to invest with the whiz kid, whose father was also helping his son juggle the incoming bank drafts.
asserted
son → tell → drafts
But things started to shift.
asserted
things → start → ?
Investors looking to withdraw funds couldn’t contact Pleterski.
asserted
Investors → look → Pleterski
Some turned to Learning, “messaging me asking if I could get a hold of him.”
uncertain
I → turn → him
Around Christmas 2021, Learning testified he told Pleterski people were worried about their money and needed answers.
asserted
people → testify → answers
At one point, Pleterski sent him a video purporting to show he had $311 million in an account.
asserted
he → send → account
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