‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Roger Ver Challenges US Tax Evasion Charges

Roger Ver, a leading cryptocurrency advocate and early Bitcoin investor, has urged a US court to dismiss tax evasion charges filed against him. He is most popularly known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ among his 745,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). 

Ver, 45, was arrested in February while attending a crypto conference in Barcelona. He is facing allegations of evading over $48 million in taxes and filing a false tax return.

Bitcoin Jesus Claims His Arrest Was Politically Driven

The charges are based on the sale of $240 million worth of cryptocurrencies and an “exit tax” linked to Ver’s renunciation of US citizenship in 2014. Prosecutors are seeking his extradition from Spain, where he awaits a court decision.

According to Bloomberg reports, Ver’s legal team has dismissed the indictment as politically motivated. They claim it represents the Biden administration’s heavy-handed approach to cryptocurrency enforcement. 

His lawyers argue the charges are part of a broader effort to regulate the sector through enforcement rather than clear policy measures.

Meanwhile, the case has drawn widespread attention in the cryptocurrency industry. Critics are accusing the US government of targeting high-profile crypto figures to set an example. 

“His crime? He didn’t commit one, but that doesn’t matter in the age of American Lawfare. What Roger did do was promote a revolutionary decentralizing technology that radically empowers citizens,” popular author Bret Weinstein wrote on X (Formerly Twitter)

Ver has been a vocal critic of US crypto regulation. He has long advocated for decentralized financial systems and the adoption of Bitcoin as a global currency. 

However, the government has successfully prosecuted several high-profile crypto figures over the past year. Earlier today, former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky pled guilty to multiple fraud charges. 

The government has also successfully prosecuted all major affiliates of Sam Bankman-Fried linked to the FTX collapse. 

A Legacy in Bitcoin

Nicknamed “Bitcoin Jesus,” Ver was among the first to promote Bitcoin when its value was less than $1. He would often give away BTC to followers to encourage adoption. He has also invested in leading crypto companies such as Ripple Labs, BitPay, and Kraken.

Roger Ver Promoting Bitcoin Back in 2013. Source: Bitcoin Magazine

Born in the US, Ver moved to Japan in 2006 and became a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2014 after renouncing his American citizenship. 

His arrest by Spanish authorities earlier this year has reignited debates on US cryptocurrency regulations and the treatment of industry pioneers. However, this is not his first legal battle. Ver has previously faced multiple lawsuits from crypto companies, including Genesis and ConFLEX.