The United States Department of Justice announced $50 million tax fraud charges against early Bitcoin investor Roger Ver, also known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ on April 30. Ver is the creator of Bitcoin Cash and has invested in several crypto start-ups. Authorities in Spain arrested Ver based on criminal charges in the US, including mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. The US government claimed Ver defrauded the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by not declaring digital assets held in corporate entities as an “exit tax,” costing them $48 million.
According to the indictment unsealed on April 29, Ver allegedly took control of around 70,000 BTC in June 2017 and sold them later that year for $240 million following a historic bull run. Ver has been involved in controversy before, including a dispute with crypto investment platform CoinFlex over $47 million in USD Coin. Bitcoiner Dan Held, a former growth lead at Kraken, condemned Ver for nearly destroying Bitcoin and engaging in personal attacks against him. Held believes Ver deserves the consequences of his actions.
Ver has not commented on the charges on social media, and US officials plan to extradite him from Spain to the United States for trial. Despite no longer being a US citizen since 2014, the crypto community speculates on Ver’s future, with many expecting him to settle the case and move on similarly to ex-Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao after his own controversy. Some in the community view Ver as a multi-billionaire who will likely reach a settlement and put the issue behind him.
Roger Ver’s actions have divided the crypto community, with some condemning his alleged fraudulent behavior and others speculating on his future in the industry. Ver’s history of controversy and personal attacks against individuals within the community have further fueled the debate surrounding his legal troubles. Many await his response to the charges and potential extradition from Spain, as well as the impact it may have on his investments and businesses. The case against Ver highlights the legal risks and consequences faced by individuals involved in the cryptocurrency space, emphasizing the importance of compliance and transparency in financial dealings.
