‘I don’t know what to ask’: Canada's 'Crypto King’ halts mid-trial  with revelation that he needs a lawyer

While his case is extreme, his predicament isn’t unusual. A growing number of Canadians head into court without legal representation — and the reason usually has more to do with money than confidence.

Read more: 'I knew his parents': Investor scammed by 'Crypto King' testifies during trial after handing over $150K+

How did the ‘Crypto King’ end up defending himself?

Pleterski was charged in May 2024 following a joint investigation by Durham Regional Police and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the province’s securities regulator. Authorities have referred to it as their largest fraud investigation.

Initially, investors handed over about $40 million, although subsequent bankruptcy proceedings only recovered roughly $3 million. Grant Thornton, the bankruptcy trustee, found that less than 2% of the money was invested while close to $16 million went to Pleterski’s own spending, including luxury cars and a rental property in Burlington, Ont. costing $45,000 a month — an allegation he denies.

Late last month, Ontario Superior Court Justice Shaun Nakatsuru, the judge who is presiding over the case, refused his request to delay the trial so he could hire counsel, CBC News reported.

Pleterski previously hired lawyer Marco Sciarra to help bring the motion of an adjournment — a legal request to temporarily suspend a trial — early last month. At that time, Sciarra revealed that Pleterski’s extended family was willing to sell assets to pay for a defence, but their names and the asset details weren’t given to the court.

The Crown questioned whether Pleterski’s efforts had been genuine.

After denying the request, Nakatsuru said he would take an “enhanced role” in the case, including objecting on Pleterski’s behalf, telling the accused, “even though this isn’t your first choice, obviously — you will receive a fair trial.”

Why do Canadians choose to represent themselves?

For most, it’s purely a financial decision.

A week-long trial can cost between $50,000 and $80,000, according to Jennifer Leith, the executive director of the National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) — a research and advocacy group at the University of Windsor — during a 2023 interview with CBC News.

“When we have large legal firms at the top charging $1,000 per hour, people can’t afford that,” Leith explained.

The alternative — legal aid — doesn’t work for many middle-income households. For instance, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), the provincial agency that funds legal help for low-income residents, provides criminal certificates to eligible low-income individuals. A certificate allows someone facing criminal charges to hire a private lawyer, with Legal Aid Ontario covering approved legal fees. As of 2026, LAO limits criminal certificates to a family of one with an annual income of $18,795 or less and assets of no more than $15,000. These income limits remain in effect until spring 2028.

Given the gap — between legal aid help and paying for court out-of-pocket — many Canadians find themselves in a position to self-represent; however, many don’t start out that way.

Research by NSRLP founder Julie Macfarlane notes that 53% of participants begin legal proceedings with a lawyer but run out of money or willingness to pay. As one participant put it: “I don’t have $350 an hour to pay a lawyer.”

Other reasons, according to Justice Canada, include not being able to find a suitable lawyer, negative prior experiences, a lack of trust and, for a few, believing they can do it themselves.

What are the pros and cons of going it alone?

For ‘Crypto King’ Pleterski and others, there are pros and cons to electing to self-represent in court.

The potential upside of self-representing

Self-representation can save someone thousands or even tens of thousands in fees, especially for simpler disputes. By not using a lawyer, a person can keep full control of their case and speak for themselves. Courts also typically give unrepresented people some flexibility, such as a judge raising objections to certain evidence, as Ontario Superior Court Justice Shaun Nakatsuru pledged to do on Pleterski’s behalf.

The real risks of legal self-representation

“The data shows, big surprise, that self-reps usually lose,” Macfarlane told Law Times. NSRLP research also found that summary judgment applications against self-represented litigants succeed 98% of the time.

Procedure is another trap, as the rules of evidence, deadlines and cross-examination take lawyers years to hone. Prolonging a case unnecessarily can expose a self-represented individual to a costs award, such as having to pay part of the other side’s legal bills.

The emotional cost is real, too. Self-represented litigants generally describe the experience as anxiety-inducing and shrouded in uncertainty.

In criminal court, the stakes are even higher, given that a loss can result in prison time; the fraud charge alone Pleterski is facing carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.

What you can do, if you’re facing a legal case

Regardless of what you may be accused of, the goal is to get some legal help early, before costly mistakes can occur.