Roger Ver faces $48M tax case as Buterin steps in

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has joined the growing chorus of voices calling for the release of Roger Ver, a prominent crypto advocate also known as "Bitcoin Jesus," who is entangled in a legal dispute with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over alleged tax evasion.

Ver's case has drawn criticism from within the crypto community, with many alleging that the charges are politically motivated.

Buterin reposted a message from Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who recently received clemency, denouncing Ver’s prosecution as "absurd" and "politically motivated."

"The US tax-by-citizenship and associated exit tax regime are extreme," Buterin stated.  

"If the IRS did intimidate Roger's lawyers to get privileged information, that is a bad faith move," he added, also raising concerns about potential misconduct by the IRS.

Ver was arrested in Spain in February 2024 on charges of evading over $48 million in taxes and filing a false tax return.

The DOJ alleges that Ver underreported the value of his Bitcoin holdings in 2014 before renouncing his U.S. citizenship.

If extradited and found guilty, he could face up to 109 years in prison.

Ver's legal team has argued that the exit tax law is unconstitutional, citing its vagueness and violation of the Apportionment Clause and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

They moved to dismiss the charges in a December 3, 2024, filing.

Several figures in the crypto space have voiced their support for Ver, with some suggesting he is being targeted for his outspoken views on personal freedoms.

"Genuine good faith mistakes should be treated by giving the actor the opportunity to pay back taxes if needed with interest and penalties, not with prosecution," Buterin stated, proposing that authorities should allow Ver to settle any outstanding taxes rather than pursue harsh legal action.

"No one should spend the rest of their life in prison because of taxes. Let him pay the tax (if there is one) and be done with it," stated Ross Ulbricht, who knows firsthand about what many consider to be excessive sentencing, has also backed Ver’s case.

Ver himself maintains that the U.S. government is maliciously prosecuting him over his crypto advocacy rather than tax-related matters.