Roger Ver, a known figure in the Bitcoin world, appears to have reached a preliminary deal. This agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice could keep him out of jail. It reportedly involves a payment of around $48 million, according to The New York Times.
Bitcoin pioneer Roger Ver has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This deal aims to settle the criminal tax evasion charges against him. The news comes from The New York Times.
Ver, often called “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early support and promotion of Bitcoin, was arrested in April 2024. He faced charges of tax fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. At the time, authorities claimed Ver hid his large Bitcoin holdings from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They said this cost the U.S. government an estimated $48 million.
A Possible End to a Major Legal Battle
Sources close to the case suggest Ver is ready to pay around $48 million to the government. This payment is part of the tentative agreement. If the investor agrees to all the terms, the charges against him could be dropped.
The Department of Justice did not respond to media requests for comments. Ver himself offered a simple “no comment.”
This development comes as Washington D.C. shows a changing political mood. President Donald Trump’s administration has adopted a friendlier stance toward the crypto industry since he returned to office.
Trump Administration’s Crypto Shift
Over the last year, the Trump government has taken steps to ease pressure on digital asset companies. They dropped investigations against big firms like Coinbase and Binance. They also put pro-crypto people in charge of key federal agencies. One example is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Analysts believe this plan helps the U.S. stay a leader in tech and finance. It also aims to win political support from digital asset voters.
As a sign of this new direction, Trump also pardoned Ross Ulbricht. Ulbricht founded Silk Road. This pardon came just days after Trump took office again.
Ulbricht, now free thanks to his pardon, spoke out for Ver earlier this year. He wrote on X: “Roger Ver was there for me when I needed him most. Now he needs our support. No one should spend the rest of their life in prison for taxes.” His statement restarted public debate. It questioned if punishments for tax crimes are fair. It also looked at how U.S. authorities treat crypto figures.
Separately, reports also suggest Ver and his team tried to get a pardon from President Trump. However, those plans never happened.
What Prediction Markets Are Saying
Prediction markets also reacted to the news. On Polymarket, a decentralized platform, bettors raised the chances of Trump pardoning Ver. The odds jumped from 23% to 29% on Thursday afternoon.
This jump shows people are more hopeful about the case’s outcome. It could close a very public dispute. This dispute has been between U.S. tax authorities and early crypto leaders.
If this deal is confirmed, it will set an important example. It shows how U.S. law is adapting to cryptocurrencies and big digital asset investors. This all happens as crypto gains more sway in politics.
🚨 Preliminary agreement in the Roger Ver case 🚨
The Bitcoin pioneer reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
A payment of USD $48 million is expected to avoid imprisonment.
Tax evasion charges could be dropped if he meets the conditions.… pic.twitter.com/8hOBVCD7Za
— Diario฿itcoin (@Blaze Trends)