Crypto Influencer BitBoy Arrested for Harassing Phone Calls

Ben Armstrong, widely recognized as the crypto influencer “BitBoy,” was arrested in Cherokee County, Georgia, late last month on six counts of harassing phone calls. This incident marks another legal challenge for the controversial figure, who has a history of run-ins with the law.

According to public jail records, BitBoy was booked into the county jail on June 27 and released the following day after posting bond. He is currently out of custody but still faces the charges. The arrest follows a period of sparse public communication from Armstrong, with his most recent post on his X account, dated June 6, appearing to have been made by a third party. The post asked followers to include positive messages in letters to Armstrong while he was in custody in a separate matter. When a user inquired about his status, the account responded, “Indeed,” indicating that he was still in jail. Armstrong has not issued an official statement regarding the harassment allegations, and the specific details surrounding the charges have not been made public.

This arrest is the latest in a series of legal troubles for BitBoy. In March, he was arrested in Florida on a fugitive warrant issued by Georgia authorities. The case stemmed from emails he allegedly sent to Cobb County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Childs, whom he opposed in a separate defamation proceeding. Armstrong later confirmed on X that the arrest was related to those communications. Additionally, he is the target of a defamation lawsuit filed by Kevin O’Leary, a “Shark Tank” investor. The suit accuses Armstrong of spreading false and malicious claims about O’Leary, including calling him “a real-life murderer” in connection with a 2019 boating accident that left two people dead. O’Leary, who was never charged, is seeking damages in excess of $75,000. The case remains active in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where O’Leary recently filed a motion for default judgment.

In June 2024, BitBoy was arrested in Georgia for reportedly making harassing phone calls. Adding to the turbulence, the CFTC issued a subpoena to HIT Network in mid-2023 amid a broader investigation into fraudulent activity linked to tokens Armstrong had promoted, such as BEN and DistX. Although BitBoy was once a major voice in crypto YouTube, his repeated controversies have damaged his credibility. Now, his future in crypto media appears uncertain as legal battles mount.

The increasing regulatory landscape requires influencers to be transparent about sponsorships and paid promotions. Influencer marketing is still a powerful tool for crypto projects, but it requires a more strategic and ethical approach. However, users are more cautious with tokens advertised by influencers. Many crypto scams involve influencers promoting investments without disclosing their financial interests, which can mislead their followers. Influencers also promote crypto to inflate its price (“pump”), and then sell their holdings at the inflated price, leaving their followers with losses (“dump”). Celebrities can significantly impact the popularity and price of crypto coins, making them attractive targets for scammers. For instance, Logan Paul was accused of promoting the CryptoZoo project and failing to disclose financial interests when promoting other crypto investments. In addition, Lindsay Lohan and Jake Paul were charged with illegally promoting Tronix (TRX) and BitTorrent (BTT). The SEC alleged that they concealed payments received for promoting the tokens.