Bitcoin Advocate Roger Ver Reaches Possible Settlement with US DOJ Regarding Tax Evasion
Crypto/Legal
 Trade Crypto on eToro

Bitcoin Advocate Roger Ver Reaches Possible Settlement with US DOJ Regarding Tax Evasion

Roger Ver, known as 'Bitcoin Jesus', may evade prison time by reaching a tentative tax deal with US authorities.

Bitcoin advocate Roger Ver, often referred to as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reportedly struck a potential agreement with the US Department of Justice that may spare him from prison.

According to a report from the New York Times, Ver’s legal team has come to a tentative arrangement with US officials mandating the Bitcoin advocate to settle $48 million in unpaid taxes related to his crypto investments. In April 2024, the Justice Department charged Ver with mail fraud and tax evasion, seeking to extradite him from Spain for trial.

The New York Times highlights Ver’s connections with individuals linked to the administration of former US President Donald Trump, including his employment of lawyers who have previously served the president. Additionally, Ver is said to have paid $600,000 to political consultant Roger Stone, a Trump advisor, to lobby for amendments to US tax regulations.

The reported settlement follows a series of legal and regulatory adjustments during the Trump presidency that softened the stance on legal matters pertaining to digital assets. As of the time this article was published, Ver’s tentative agreement was not visible on the public record for his case in the US District Court for the Central District of California.

Related:

Roger Ver’s Trump pardon plea: ‘Lawfare’ victim or tax evader?

The original indictment claims that Ver inaccurately reported information on tax documents regarding his cryptocurrency holdings. In 2014, he and two of his companies, MemoryDealers and Agilestar, reportedly held around 131,000 BTC. The DOJ indicated that he endeavored to evade tax responsibilities by relinquishing his US citizenship and subsequently acquiring citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis.

“Even though Ver was not a US citizen at that time, he still had a legal obligation to report to the IRS and fulfill tax duties on specific distributions,” stated the Justice Department in April 2024.

Watch the video here.

Spanish authorities apprehended Ver following his US indictment in 2024, but he secured bail shortly after. Since then, his lawyers have been contesting Spanish authorities attempting to extradite him to the US and challenging the charges in federal court.

Seeking a presidential pardon

After Donald Trump secured reelection in 2024, speculation arose among crypto enthusiasts that he might grant a pardon to Ver.

Ross Ulbricht, the creator of Silk Road and among the first individuals to be pardoned by Trump, endorsed leniency in Ver’s matter. “No one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes,” Ulbricht commented in February. “Let him pay the tax (if any) and be done with it.”

As of Thursday, Ver’s profile on X directed users to a petition urging Trump to pardon him. His website also featured an open letter imploring the US government to cease its prosecution, labeling it a “retaliatory action” due to his support for Bitcoin.

Next article

Bitcoin's Bollinger Bands Reach Historical Tightness: What Lies Ahead for BTC?

Newsletter

Get the most talked about stories directly in your inbox

Every week we share the most relevant news in tech, culture, and entertainment. Join our community.

Your privacy is important to us. We promise not to send you spam!