Roger Ver claims US targets him over Bitcoin advocacy not taxes

Roger Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early promotion of cryptocurrency, is contesting tax evasion charges brought against him by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

Ver, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, was arrested in Spain in April as U.S. authorities seek his extradition on multiple charges, including tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing false tax returns.

The DOJ alleges that Ver undervalued his assets and failed to report ownership of approximately 131,000 Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC), which could have led to a tax shortfall of about $48 million.

"I wasn’t an American citizen or living in the US at the time these claims were made,” Ver denied the allegations in a December 10 interview with Tucker Carlson.

He contends that the U.S. government is not pursuing him for tax reasons but rather due to his outspoken support for cryptocurrencies.

According to the DOJ, Ver failed to report significant capital gains from Bitcoin sales and underreported the value of his companies when he renounced his citizenship.

Ver’s legal team argues that these allegations are outdated and arise from unclear cryptocurrency tax laws.

They also assert that U.S. prosecutors have misused confidential communications and violated legal protections during the investigation.

In his interview, Ver claimed that the charges are politically motivated and linked to his advocacy for Bitcoin, which he believes threatens government control over financial systems.

He suggested that U.S. intelligence agencies are involved in efforts to suppress Bitcoin's original goal of decentralisation.

On December 3, Ver filed a motion to dismiss the tax evasion charges as “unconstitutional,” arguing that the IRS exit tax is vague and improperly applied to digital assets.

The IRS requires U.S. citizens to pay taxes before renouncing their citizenship if they possess significant assets.

At the time of reporting, the Bitcoin price was $100,918.