The federal court ordered a $2.8 million fine to influencer BitBoy Crypto for defamation allegations against Kevin O'Leary

Ben Armstrong, a well-known crypto media personality from the BitBoy Crypto project, has been ordered to pay substantial damages for a series of provocative posts on social media platform X. The federal judge Bet Bloom from the Southern District of Florida outlined specific amounts reflecting the severity of the misconduct.

The court ruling includes approximately $78,000 in damages for reputation harm, $750,000 for emotional distress, and a significant $2 million in punitive damages. The court issued a default judgment against Armstrong because he failed to appear in court and did not file any objections for nearly a year since the lawsuit was filed.

Scandalous accusations on social media: how it all started

In late March 2025, Ben Armstrong posted a series of high-profile posts on X, making unprecedented allegations against O’Liri and his wife Linda. According to his posts, the couple was allegedly involved in a fatal boat collision on Lake Ontario in 2019 and supposedly paid large sums of money to conceal their involvement in the tragedy.

The facts of the case significantly differed from Armstrong’s version. O’Liri was merely a passenger on the boat and was never charged in connection with the incident. Linda O’Liri was later fully exonerated by the court after a 13-day trial, accused of negligent boat operation.

Influencer BitBoy Crypto took further provocative steps: he publicly shared O’Liri’s personal phone number and directly urged his followers to contact him, calling the person a “real murderer.” These actions led to active complaints and resulted in Armstrong’s account being temporarily suspended on the platform.

From court blocking to final judgment: how the case developed

In January 2026, Armstrong attempted to change the situation by filing a motion to set aside the default judgment. In his appeal, he cited personal circumstances: imprisonment and mental health issues allegedly preventing his participation in the legal process. Some confidential case documents mentioned a bipolar disorder diagnosis for Armstrong.

However, the court rejected the request for reconsideration. The judge noted that Armstrong was properly notified of the court proceedings and had nearly a year to respond to the lawsuit but failed to do so.

Legal troubles and professional downfall of BitBoy Crypto

This court ruling adds to the growing list of legal complications faced by Ben Armstrong since 2023. Besides this case, he has been arrested multiple times. In March 2025, he was detained on a warrant related to alleged threats against a judge in Georgia. Then, in June of the same year, he was again detained on charges of phone harassment.

Armstrong’s career within the BitBoy Crypto project ended even earlier, in August 2023, when he was suspended from the brand. The parent company cited issues related to substance abuse as the reason for the suspension. This marked the end of an era when Armstrong was considered one of the most prominent figures in crypto media.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous scandals, including admissions of paid promotions for projects that either failed or were later exposed as scams. His prolonged legal dispute with YouTuber Atozy was particularly high-profile. Ultimately, Armstrong was forced to abandon the conflict after a wave of criticism from the crypto community.