- Published on
God told them to sell crypto. Their investors lost everything
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
A Colorado pastor and his wife who say God told them to create a cryptocurrency have left more than 500 investors out millions. Eli and Kaitlyn Regalado launched INDXcoin in 2021 after Eli testified he heard God say, 'Take this to my people for a wealth transfer.' They promoted it through evangelical Christian circles. More than 500 people invested over $3 million.
The Regalados had no crypto background. They said divine guidance had directed them to marry, buy a house, and start a family. Eli, a Colorado marketing firm owner, had also been told to preach online. In October 2021, Eli's sister and her husband gifted them a digital coin, which Eli says God told him to sell to fellow Christians.
Starting in November 2022, retired pharmacy technician Debbie Bonilla and her husband Jose withdrew $70,000 from retirement accounts to buy INDXcoin. They learned about it through a minister and his wife who had invested. Within a year, the project collapsed. The Bonillas lost a large share of their nest egg.
The collapse raised concerns about faith-based investment schemes and the vulnerability of religious communities. Investors wondered where the funds went, and some questioned whether they had fallen victim to fraud. The case shows how trust in religious leaders can be exploited in financial markets.
Debbie Bonilla described the sudden loss: 'Poofâthe money just evaporated. Like, how does that happen?' The Regalados maintain they were following God's instructions. Eli claims he was initially reluctant, thinking, 'Absolutely not. I don't know anything.'
The fate of the missing millions remains unclear. Accusations of fraud have followed the Regalados, but no charges have been mentioned. For more than 500 investors, recovery is uncertain. The case is a cautionary tale about mixing faith with finance.
