Roger Ver agrees to settle US tax case for $48 million

Key points:

• Roger Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” agreed to pay $48 million to settle tax fraud charges in the US.
• The deal coincided with a noticeable softening of Washington’s attitude toward cryptocurrencies after Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
• A number of high-profile cases against crypto entrepreneurs were dropped, and some figures, including Ross Ulbricht, received presidential pardons.

Entrepreneur and early bitcoin investor Roger Ver has agreed to pay $48 million to settle a tax fraud case in the United States. The deal reflects a shift in the approach to cryptocurrency regulation under President Donald Trump. Ver gained notoriety in the early years of bitcoin for his persistent promotion of the asset, earning him the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus.”

In 2024, prosecutors charged him with fraud and tax evasion. They claimed that Ver concealed his ownership of digital assets and did not pay taxes after renouncing his US citizenship in 2014. The Justice Department has not yet filed the plea agreement with the court, and it could still change before it is finalized.

Washington’s stance on cryptocurrencies softens under Trump

This case comes amid significant changes in Washington’s approach to cryptocurrencies. Since Trump’s return to the White House, regulators have softened their stance. Previously, under the previous administration, enforcement measures were much more aggressive.

Now, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuits against exchanges such as Uniswap have been dropped. In addition, several prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry have received presidential pardons.

Earlier this year, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road marketplace, who was serving a life sentence. He later pardoned the founders of BitMEX, who pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering (AML) laws.

Ver challenged Spain’s approval of extradition to the US

Ver was arrested in Spain in 2024 following a US extradition request. He later filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, claiming that Spain had violated his legal guarantees by approving his extradition to Los Angeles.

In January, Ver stated that if found guilty, he could face more than 100 years in prison, calling his prosecution politically motivated. In a message to Trump on the X platform, he wrote:

“Mr. President, I am an American, and I need your help. Only you, with your commitment to justice, can save me.”

Source: x.com

Donald Trump has not yet decided on Ver’s situation.