‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Roger Ver Agrees to $48M Deal to Resolve US Tax Fraud Case
Roger Ver, probably the most recognizable figures in crypto, has agreed to pay $48m to settle a US tax fraud case. The deal marks a turning level in a saga that has drawn political consideration. It additionally displays the shifting method to crypto regulation beneath President Donald Trump.
Ver, 46, rose to prominence in Bitcoin’s early years for his relentless evangelism. His efforts earned him the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus.”
The New York Times reported Thursday that Ver has reached a tentative deferred-prosecution settlement with the US Department of Justice. The $48m deal marks the identical quantity prosecutors mentioned he owed, in trade for the eventual dismissal of expenses if he complies with the settlement’s phrases.
In 2024, prosecutors charged him with fraud and tax evasion. They alleged he hid digital asset holdings and failed to pay taxes after renouncing his US citizenship in 2014.
The Justice Department has not but filed the deal in courtroom, and it may nonetheless change earlier than being finalized.
Washington’s Stance on Crypto Softens Under Trump’s Second Term
The case comes at a time of main change in Washington’s method to crypto. Since Trump’s return to the White House, regulators have eased their stance. Earlier, enforcement had been way more aggressive beneath the earlier administration.
Now, lawsuits by the SEC in opposition to exchanges comparable to Coinbase have been dropped. In addition, a number of outstanding crypto figures have obtained presidential pardons.
Earlier this 12 months, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, founding father of the Silk Road market, who was serving a life sentence, and later extended clemency to the founders of BitMEX, who had pleaded responsible to violating anti–cash laundering legal guidelines.
‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Turned to Trump Allies as Legal Pressures Mounted
Ver has sought to align himself with Trump’s orbit all through his authorized troubles. Earlier this 12 months, he paid $600,000 to Trump ally Roger Stone to foyer in opposition to the tax provisions central to his case.
Lobbying data additionally present that Ver employed attorneys Christopher Kise and Brian Ballard, each of whom have long-standing ties to Trump’s political community.
The Justice Department accused Ver of hiding the true worth of his Bitcoin holdings. The filings have been related to his determination to surrender US citizenship. At that point, Americans have been required to pay an “exit tax” on all international property, together with cryptocurrency. Prosecutors argued that by concealing his holdings, Ver disadvantaged the US of hundreds of thousands in taxes.
Ver Challenged Spain’s Approval of US Extradition
Ver was arrested in Spain in 2024 following a US extradition request. He later filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, claiming Spain had violated his legal protections by approving the extradition to Los Angeles.
In January, Ver mentioned in a video posted on-line that he confronted a doable sentence exceeding 100 years if convicted, framing his prosecution as politically motivated. In a message to Trump on X, he wrote, “Mr. President, I’m an American, and I want your assist. Only you, together with your dedication to justice, can save me.”
The settlement, if finalized, would shut probably the most high-profile tax circumstances involving a cryptocurrency pioneer. For Ver, as soon as celebrated for bringing Bitcoin to the mainstream, it marks a dramatic flip in a profession outlined by each innovation and controversy.
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