Roger Ver, the prominent figure in the Bitcoin community famously dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reached an agreement to settle his legal troubles with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) by paying a substantial sum of $48 million related to tax fraud allegations.

In a recent turn of events, this settlement comes after Ver publicly sought presidential aid for his legal battle earlier this year.

Details of the Settlement

The New York Times reported that the cryptocurrency advocate has entered a tentative deferred-prosecution deal with federal authorities in an effort to resolve criminal charges that were filed against him last year. This agreement stems from accusations made in 2024, claiming that Ver failed to pay $48 million owed in taxes linked to his cryptocurrency investments.

According to the deal, which is still in the process of being finalized, Ver must remit the same amount to the government. If he adheres to all the stipulations outlined by the DOJ, the charges against him may be dropped.

However, Ver has remained tight-lipped throughout this process, stating: “I’d LOVE to say more, but I will follow my tax lawyer’s advice like I’ve been doing for decades. Unfortunately, that means ‘no comment.’”

Once a U.S. citizen, Ver renounced his citizenship in 2014 and had faced legal action in Spain last year following the U.S. government’s announcement regarding his extradition. He was accused of hiding the actual worth of his Bitcoin holdings to evade taxes owed at the time of relinquishing his citizenship.

Involvement of Political Figures

During the litigation, the 46-year-old engaged multiple associates connected to former President Donald Trump. It has been disclosed that Ver paid Roger Stone $600,000 to help contest the tax allegations. Additionally, he sought the expertise of lawyers David Schoen and Christopher M. Kise and collaborated with a lobbying firm run by Trump supporter Brian Ballard.

Earlier this year, Ver requested assistance from Trump, asserting in a social media video that his legal troubles stem from political targeting due to his advocacy for cryptocurrency. He expressed concerns that he might face a sentence exceeding 100 years for his support of the crypto movement.

The announcement marks a noticeable shift in the U.S. government’s attitude towards cryptocurrency since Trump’s administration began. In recent months, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has eased its stance by dropping numerous lawsuits against major entities, a stark contrast to the previous enforcement climate under President Joe Biden.

In the early days of his presidency, Trump also pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road site, along with the BitMEX founders who were found guilty of violating anti-money laundering laws.