Florida federal judge Beth Bloom has ordered crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, known as “Bitboy,” to pay nearly $2.83 million to businessman Kevin O’Leary. The judgment comes after Armstrong made a series of defamatory social media posts accusing the Shark Tank star of murder related to a 2019 boating accident. Armstrong failed to respond to the lawsuit or appear in court, leading to a default ruling in O’Leary’s favor.
A federal judge has ruled in favor of Kevin O’Leary in a defamation lawsuit against crypto personality Ben Armstrong. Judge Beth Bloom ordered Armstrong to pay almost $2.83 million in damages for social media posts calling O’Leary a murderer.
The accusations stemmed from a 2019 boating accident involving O’Leary and his wife that resulted in two deaths. Armstrong claimed O’Leary paid to cover up the incident, but the judge noted O’Leary was not operating the boat and was never charged.
Linda O’Leary was initially charged but was exonerated after a trial found the other boat was operating without lights. The legal proceedings established she was not at fault for the tragic accident.
Judge Bloom stated Armstrong escalated his campaign by sharing O’Leary’s private phone number. He urged his followers to “call a real life murderer,” resulting in a 12-hour suspension from the platform.
O’Leary reported his phone was “lighting up” after the post, which significantly affected his professional and personal life. The court considered this harassment when determining the damages awarded.
The judge issued a default judgment as Armstrong did not respond to the complaint or appear in court. The awarded damages include $750,000 for mental anguish, $78,000 for reputational harm, and $2 million in punitive damages.
This ruling is the latest in a string of legal issues for Armstrong, once a prominent YouTube figure. He was removed from the Bitboy Crypto brand in 2023 after building one of the platform’s most-watched channels.
Armstrong was arrested in Florida in March for emails sent to a Georgia judge while representing himself. He faced another arrest in Georgia last July on charges of making harassing phone calls.
His previous arrest occurred in 2023 during a livestream outside a former associate’s home. Armstrong had alleged the individual was in possession of his Lamborghini at the time.
