Federal Judge Dismisses XRP Influencer's Defamation Suit

A U.S. District Court in the Western District of Washington dismissed all claims brought by XRP influencer Jake Claver against content creator Zach Rector. The judge applied Washington’s Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, an anti‑SLAPP statute, and found no actionable false statements in Rector’s videos.

Background of the Lawsuit

The suit centered on three videos posted by Rector that alleged misconduct involving Claver’s entities, Digital Ascension Group and Digital Wealth Partners. Rector’s commentary referenced admissions made by Claver in a separate New York lawsuit filed by payments processor Verivend Inc., where Claver acknowledged fabricating emails, wire‑transfer confirmations, and a screenshot of a Verivend wallet dashboard showing a false balance exceeding $1 million.

Court Decision

Judge Kymberly K. Evanson granted Rector’s motion to dismiss, stating that the videos did not contain false statements and were protected speech on a matter of public concern. The court dismissed the defamation claim along with related claims of tortious interference, conspiracy, and breach of contract, all without prejudice. Rector was awarded attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, and Claver has until September 23 to file an amended complaint.

Context Within Crypto Defamation Litigation

This dismissal follows a pattern of defamation suits in the cryptocurrency space that have been withdrawn or dismissed. A notable prior case involved BitBoy Crypto founder Ben Armstrong, who sued fellow YouTuber Erling Mengshoel Jr. (Atozy) over a critical video; the case was withdrawn after public backlash and a fundraising effort for the defense.

Community Reaction

Members of the XRP community described the ruling as a vindication of Rector’s reporting and a warning against using defamation claims to suppress criticism. The decision underscores the challenges plaintiffs face when attempting to silence critics in the crypto sector.