Don’t Fall for Fake Faith: ‘Crypto Pastor’ Exposed as Career Criminal

Here’s the lowdown on this unfortunate situation:

• Eli Regalado, who called himself a “Crypto Pastor,” used claims of divine inspiration to convince around 300 investors, many from his online church and the broader Christian community, to put $3.4 million into a cryptocurrency scheme.
• Regalado and his wife, Kaitlyn, are accused of diverting $1.3 million of those funds for personal luxuries like a Range Rover, designer goods, dental work, and luxury vacations. Eli himself admitted to pocketing the money.
• This isn’t Regalado’s first brush with the law; he has a long criminal history, including prison time for stealing cars, assault, and racketeering, and his ex-wife described him as a manipulative “con man” who saw religion as a way to exploit a “new audience.”

Why This Matters for Your Church or Family

This story is a stark reminder and a serious warning for every small church and Christian family. When someone stands up claiming to be a pastor and uses God’s name to sell a get-rich-quick scheme, it doesn’t just hurt the individual victims financially; it deeply damages trust within the Christian community and can even shake people’s faith. Many families, especially those trying to be good stewards of what God has blessed them with, can be vulnerable to these kinds of promises, particularly when they’re wrapped in spiritual language. We need to be prayerful, discerning, and remember that true ministry is about selfless service, not about lining pockets by fleecing the flock. Always verify, ask questions, and be cautious with any financial opportunity that promises “exorbitant returns” and claims God told them to do it.

This story was analyzed for Christ P2P. You can read the original reporting here: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/eli-regalado-colorado-crypto-pastor-racketeering-theft/