A U.S. court has ordered crypto influencer Ben "Bitboy Crypto" Armstrong to pay entrepreneur and television personality Kevin O’Leary $2,828,000 in damages, ruling in a high-profile defamation case. The omnibus order, issued on Feb. 11, also rejected Armstrong’s motion to overturn a default judgment.
False Murder Claims Tied to 2019 Boating Accident
O’Leary accused Armstrong of maliciously publishing falsehoods, including calling him a murderer and alleging he "paid millions to cover up his role in a murder." The claims stemmed from a 2019 boating accident involving O’Leary’s wife, Linda, which tragically left two people dead. Linda was later exonerated, but the incident had caused financial fallout as speaking engagements dried up for the O’Learys.
Although the matter had faded, Armstrong resurrected the false accusations in March 2025, calling O’Leary a murderer and urging followers to harass him by sharing his personal cell phone number. O’Leary argued that Armstrong’s posts damaged his businesses and reputation, while the exposed phone number disrupted both his professional and personal life.
Defense of Incarceration and Mental Health Rejected
Armstrong claimed "extraordinary circumstances" — including incarceration and mental health struggles — prevented him from attending the hearing. But the court dismissed the bid, stating: "While the Defendant cites to various mental health issues as the basis for his failure to respond, he has failed to provide specific facts and circumstances demonstrating why the illness or disability caused him to miss the original deadline."
Business Fallout: Security Costs Jump $200,000 Annually
O’Leary revealed he now spends an additional $200,000 per year on security, with staff pushing for even stronger protection. The order noted: "O’Leary has been inundated with inquiries from his business partners and television network partners regarding Defendant’s posts that O’Leary was a murderer and paid millions to cover it up." The case serves as a stark reminder of legal consequences for crypto influencers spreading malicious lies on public platforms.