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Crypto entrepreneur Jake Claver has filed a $30 million defamation lawsuit against XRP influencer Zach Rector, accusing him of running an online smear campaign that harmed his reputation and business.

The lawsuit was filed on January 9, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, according to court records. Claver is the founder and chief executive of Digital Ascension Group and Digital Wealth Partners.

Claver alleges that Rector published false and misleading statements in late December across X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other platforms, accusing him of fraud, dishonesty, and misleading investors.

Lawsuit Targets December Videos

According to the complaint, the dispute centers on videos Rector posted on December 30 and 31, 2025, including a two-part series that Claver says falsely portrayed him as covering up fraud and lying about investment returns.

The filing claims Rector referenced a 2023 lawsuit involving a private equity deal, which Claver says was settled and did not involve fraud on his part. Claver alleges the videos twisted the facts of that case to suggest ongoing misconduct.

The lawsuit accuses Rector and his company, Entrepreneur Exposed LLC, of defamation, tortious interference, and breach of contract.

Former Collaboration Turned Sour

Court documents show that Claver and Rector previously worked together and appeared in multiple joint videos and live events between 2023 and 2025. They also entered into a 2025 affiliate agreement, under which Rector’s company was paid for referrals to Claver’s businesses.

That agreement, according to the lawsuit, required Rector not to make false or misleading statements about Claver’s services.

Claver alleges the relationship deteriorated after he ended an affiliate arrangement with a crypto brokerage in mid-2025. Rector allegedly maintained ties to the same brokerage, which the lawsuit describes as a competitor.

XRP Price Predictions at the Center

The public dispute intensified after Rector criticized Claver’s high-confidence XRP price calls, including repeated claims that XRP could reach $100 by the end of 2025.

In a December 30 post on X, Rector wrote that there was “not a chance” of such a move happening and accused Claver of misleading the community by promoting certainty around speculative price targets.

Claver’s lawsuit argues that disagreement over price predictions does not justify what it calls false claims of fraud and dishonesty.

Alleged Business Damage

Claver says the videos caused immediate financial harm, including lost clients, canceled onboarding deals, and withdrawals from existing investors. The lawsuit claims several potential clients cited the fraud allegations as the reason for walking away.

The complaint also states that Claver was removed as a speaker from an upcoming industry conference following the publication of the videos.

While Rector has taken down some of the disputed content, Claver argues the damage has already spread across social media, Reddit, and crypto news outlets.