Bitcoin pioneer Roger Ver will pay USD $48 million in back taxes to the U.S. government, securing a deferred prosecution agreement that allows him to avoid prison, marking the resolution of a high-profile tax evasion case rooted in his renunciation of U.S. citizenship.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed the agreement, which concludes a lengthy legal process that began with Ver’s extradition request from Spain in April 2024. He faced charges of tax evasion and fraud related to his cryptocurrency holdings.
Ver, an early advocate for Bitcoin and former executive at Memory Dealers and Agilestar, was accused of concealing information about his crypto-related tax declarations. Authorities alleged he failed to report income after relinquishing his U.S. citizenship.
In 2014, Ver renounced his U.S. citizenship and adopted the nationality of St. Kitts and Nevis. Despite this, the DOJ contended he was still legally obligated to report certain income and distributions to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). At that time, Ver and his companies reportedly controlled approximately 131,000 Bitcoin.
The case gained a political dimension due to Ver’s alleged ties to allies of former President Donald Trump. Reports indicate Ver hired lawyers linked to the Trump administration. He reportedly paid USD $600,000 to political strategist Roger Stone, a former Trump advisor, to lobby for changes in tax legislation.
These connections fueled debate about political influence in cryptocurrency regulation. Ver’s team reportedly sought a presidential pardon from Trump, though those efforts did not materialize. The Republican administration has shown a more favorable stance toward the digital asset sector. Following his 2024 re-election, Trump advocated for pro-crypto policies, halting investigations into firms like Coinbase and Binance.
Ver’s legal troubles also garnered support from within the digital asset community. Ross Ulbricht, creator of the former Silk Road marketplace and a recipient of a presidential pardon, publicly backed Ver. Ulbricht stated in February 2024, “No one should spend the rest of their life in prison for tax issues. Let him pay what he owes and close the case.”
Libertarian sympathizers and Bitcoin supporters campaigned on social media for Trump to grant Ver clemency. Ver’s X account links to an online petition for a presidential pardon.
The resolution of Ver’s case could establish a precedent for other cryptocurrency pioneers facing tax authorities. It reinforces the notion that even ardent proponents of digital decentralization must adhere to traditional financial regulations.