Known as the “Bitcoin Jesus,” Roger Ver is currently entangled in significant legal issues.
He faces serious charges in the United States, including mail fraud, tax evasion, and false declarations, which could result in over 100 years of imprisonment. In a bid to influence the situation politically, Ver has sought collaboration with an ally of Donald Trump.
Ver Paid $600,000 to Roger Stone
Documents obtained by the New York Times reveal that Ver paid Roger Stone, a long-time associate of Trump, $600,000 to lobby Congress on his behalf. Stone began his lobbying efforts in February, aiming to have modifications made to the legal regulations that Ver is currently facing charges under.
Bitcoin Jesus Roger Ver
In a statement, Ver firmly denied the allegations and directly addressed Trump in a video released in January. He discussed the “exit tax” complications he faced when renouncing U.S. citizenship, claiming he was unable to make necessary payments due to a liquidity shortage in the Bitcoin market at that time. He insisted that he did everything possible to comply with the rules.
$48 Million Tax Dispute
The U.S. government alleges that Ver has avoided paying at least $48 million in taxes since renouncing his American citizenship. The exit tax requires wealthy individuals to pay taxes on their assets when exiting citizenship. Ver claims that technical complexities and the stagnation in the Bitcoin market prevented him from fulfilling this obligation.
The allegations against him are severe, encompassing mail fraud, tax evasion, and false tax declaration. If found guilty, he could face significant prison time.
However, Ver is not alone in this battle. Several notable and controversial figures in the cryptocurrency world have openly expressed their support for him. Among them is Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, who is serving a life sentence. Ulbricht recalled Ver’s past support for him and argued that Ver deserves clemency, asserting that the current circumstances represent an injustice rather than punishment.
Economist Jeffrey Tucker is also among those backing Ver. Tucker characterized Ver as a “hero” who is being punished solely for advocating freedom and financial independence.
