Kidnapper admits to beating, waterboarding ‘Crypto King’ Aiden Pleterski | CBC News

Kidnapper Admits to Beating and Waterboarding ‘Crypto King’ Aiden Pleterski

Aiden Pleterski, who called himself the “Crypto King,” was captured in a terrifying moment on video, begging for his life while his kidnapper pointed a gun at him and counted down from three. Just before reaching one, the kidnapper fired the gun beside Pleterski’s head.

“Where is it?” Deren Akyeam-Pong demanded after the shot.

This 13-second video from the night of Pleterski’s 2022 kidnapping was used as evidence during the guilty plea of Deren Akyeam-Pong. Last month, Akyeam-Pong admitted guilt to nine charges in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto, including kidnapping, assault, and multiple firearms offenses.

Details of the Abduction and Torture

The incident began on December 5, 2022, when Pleterski, then 26, believed he was meeting a potential investor. Instead, a gun was pressed into his ribs in the backseat of a pickup truck in Toronto, marking the start of a three-day ordeal.

Throughout this time, Pleterski faced brutal treatment during his captivity. His kidnappers subjected him to waterboarding, cigarette burns, and assaults using golf clubs. He was moved between various locations across southern Ontario during the abduction.

Legal Proceedings

The information about the kidnapping and torture comes from the agreed statement of facts presented in Akyeam-Pong’s case.

The case highlights the severity and cruelty of Pleterski’s abduction, emphasizing the significant dangers linked to criminal activity within the cryptocurrency world.

Author’s summary: The kidnapping of Aiden Pleterski involved brutal torture and threats, revealing a dark episode behind the persona of the self-styled “Crypto King.”

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CBC CBC — 2025-11-05

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