Roger Ver Aka ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Reaches Deal In Tax Fraud Case

Roger Ver – as soon as dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early evangelism of bitcoin – has reached a tentative take care of the US Division of Justice to resolve legal tax fraud prices, in keeping with stories The New York Occasions reporting.

The settlement, which continues to be awaiting court docket approval, would require Ver to pay roughly $48 million in again taxes. In return, prosecutors would drop the case if he meets the phrases of a deferred prosecution settlement.

The case in opposition to Ver, filed in 2024, accused him of evading taxes associated to his huge bitcoin holdings earlier than renouncing his US citizenship in 2014. arrested in Spain final yr when prosecutors requested extradition.

If the deal is accomplished, it might mark a pointy flip for considered one of cryptocurrency’s most controversial pioneers — and sign that Washington’s tone on digital property is altering once more.

Ver’s large bitcoin holdings

Ver’s lawsuit alleges that Ver supplied false or deceptive info to a legislation agency and an appraiser, concealing the true variety of bitcoins he and his firms personal. This allegedly led to the submitting of false tax returns that considerably undervalued each the businesses and their bitcoin holdings.

In 2017, Ver’s firms reportedly nonetheless held about 70,000 bitcoins, which he bought on cryptocurrency exchanges for about $240 million.

Though he was not a U.S. citizen on the time, Ver was nonetheless legally required to report sure distributions to the IRS and pay taxes on them. The indictment says he failed to take action, leading to an estimated $48 million loss to the IRS.

The potential settlement comes because the Trump administration continues to wind down a years-long federal crackdown on crypto.

Ver’s protection leaned on Trump’s pro-bitcoin political currents. He paid Trump ally Roger Stone $600,000 and employed legal professionals tied to the previous president — together with David Schoen and Christopher Kise — and GOP fundraiser Brian Ballard’s lobbying agency, in keeping with The New York Occasions.

In January, Ver publicly appealed to Trump for assist, claiming his case was politically motivated and warning he may face a 100-year jail sentence.

Neither the Justice Division nor Ver has commented publicly on the reported settlement.