TL;DR
- Roger Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” faces charges of tax evasion and fraud that could potentially result in over 100 years in prison.
- To defend himself, he hired Trump ally Roger Stone, paying him $600,000 to lobby Congress.
- This case highlights how the crypto world is becoming increasingly involved in U.S. politics, seeking clearer and fairer laws for those innovating within the sector.
Roger Ver, a key figure in the early adoption of Bitcoin and one of its most outspoken advocates, is now facing federal charges for tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing false tax returns. The U.S. government accuses him of dodging at least $48 million in taxes after renouncing his citizenship in 2014, triggering the controversial “exit tax” aimed at high-net-worth individuals. In his defense, Ver claims there was no malicious intent, he simply struggled to liquidate his crypto holdings due to the market’s low liquidity at the time, making compliance extremely difficult and frustrating for him.
Roger Stone, Lobbying Efforts And Crypto Support
In a surprising yet strategic move, Roger Ver has hired the controversial Republican strategist Roger Stone, a close ally of Donald Trump, to lobby Congress on his behalf. According to a “New York Times” report published in February, Ver paid $600,000 to Stone to help influence lawmakers and push for legal reforms that could impact the case. This legal and political strategy is not an isolated one: it comes at a time when President Trump has manifested a shift in favor of the crypto ecosystem, even granting clemency and pardons to industry figure Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road.
Ross Ulbricht, publicly expressed his support for Ver, stating that
“no one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes.”
His words have sparked a wave of solidarity across the crypto community, which increasingly sees Ver not as a criminal but as someone standing up to a tax system outdated and ill-equipped for the realities of digital finance.
Crypto’s Growing Political Involvement
This case is not just about Roger Ver, it represents a broader shift in how the crypto ecosystem is engaging with the political sphere. Faced with unclear regulations and heavy-handed enforcement actions from entities like the SEC under Gary Gensler’s leadership, many crypto leaders are now pushing for structural change from within the system. While the outcome of Ver’s case remains uncertain, one thing is clear: cryptocurrencies are no longer staying on the sidelines. They’re stepping into the political arena, ready to defend their legitimacy and shape the future of finance.
