Kevin O’Leary wins $2.8 million defamation judgment against crypto influencer Ben ‘BitBoy’ Armstrong

U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom entered a $2.8 million default judgment against Ben Armstrong, formerly known as "BitBoy," in a defamation case brought by Kevin O'Leary. The award includes $78,000 for reputational damages, $750,000 for emotional distress, and $2 million in punitive damages, as Armstrong failed to provide a substantive response. The lawsuit stemmed from posts Armstrong made in March 2025 accusing O'Leary and his wife of murder related to a 2019 boating accident and encouraging followers to harass O'Leary by publishing his private phone number. Armstrong's attempt to vacate the judgment, citing incarceration and mental health issues, was rejected by the court. This ruling is one of several legal setbacks for Armstrong, who was previously removed from the BitBoy Crypto brand, arrested multiple times, and faced regulatory scrutiny, including a CFTC subpoena and a settlement over promoting unregistered securities for Binance. The article also notes O'Leary's own past association with FTX, which paid him to be a spokesperson before its collapse.

(Source：The Block)