Bitcoin News Today: Trump DOJ's Crypto Shift: $48M Settlement Spares 'Bitcoin Jesus' Prosecution

Roger Ver, a prominent cryptocurrency investor and advocate known as "Bitcoin Jesus," has reached a tentative deferred-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve criminal tax fraud charges, according to multiple reports. Under the terms of the agreement, Ver would pay approximately $48 million to the government to settle allegations that he evaded taxes on gains from his Bitcoin holdings. The deal, which has not yet been filed in court, would see the charges dropped if Ver complies with all conditions. The case, filed in 2024, accused Ver of failing to report $240 million in proceeds from Bitcoin sales between 2014 and 2017, despite having renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014. Prosecutors alleged Ver concealed the value of his Bitcoin portfolio before expatriation, leading to an estimated $48 million in unpaid taxes.

The agreement reflects a broader shift in the Trump administration's approach to crypto enforcement. Federal agencies, including the DOJ and SEC, have rolled back high-profile enforcement actions initiated under the Biden administration, signaling a more industry-friendly stance. Ver's case is emblematic of this trend, with his legal team leveraging connections to Trump-aligned figures, including hiring attorneys who represented the during his impeachments and lobbying through GOP fundraisers. Ver also paid $600,000 to Roger Stone, a Trump associate, to challenge the tax provisions central to the case.

The DOJ's decision to pursue a deferred-prosecution deal rather than a conviction aligns with the administration's emphasis on regulatory clarity over punitive action. This follows the dismissal of several major crypto-related lawsuits, including cases against Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance. Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda has emphasized a pivot toward rulemaking rather than enforcement, with the agency forming a new Crypto Task Force to develop a "comprehensive and clear regulatory framework" for digital assets. The shift has been welcomed by industry advocates, who argue that prior enforcement actions stifled innovation.

Ver's legal strategy also involved challenging his extradition from Spain, where he was arrested in 2024. He filed a lawsuit at the European Court of Human Rights, alleging Spain violated his legal rights by approving extradition to the U.S. Ver's Spanish attorney claimed prosecutors ignored exculpatory evidence and failed to address legal uncertainties around crypto taxation. The case highlighted the complexities of international jurisdiction in crypto-related crimes, with Ver previously appealing to Trump for a pardon before the request was withdrawn.

The outcome of Ver's case could set a precedent for how the Trump administration handles high-profile crypto enforcement. While the DOJ has signaled a reduced focus on regulatory overreach, it remains committed to prosecuting clear-cut fraud and criminal activity. Ver's agreement, if finalized, would underscore the administration's prioritization of collaboration with the industry over aggressive litigation. However, critics argue the approach risks emboldening bad actors and leaving consumers vulnerable to fraud.

Sources:

[1] The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/technology/roger-ver-bitcoin-justice-department-deal.html)

[2] Bitcoin Magazine (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/roger-ver-aka-bitcoin-jesus-reaches-deal-in-u-s-tax-fraud-case)

[3] Blockworks (https://blockworks.co/news/roger-ver-tax-settlement)

[4] Dynamis LLP (https://www.dynamisllp.com/knowledge/crypto-developments-trump-sec)

[5] Pillsbury Law (https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/news-and-insights/cryptocurrency-digital-assets-trump.html)

[6] Theblock.co (https://www.theblock.co/post/362977/roger-ver-facing-109-year-sentence-over-exit-tax-scandal-sues-spain-to-block-us-extradition)

[7] Katten (https://natlawreview.com/article/white-house-embraces-crypto-sec-opens-door-banks)

[8] AP News (https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-stablecoins-congress-cryptocurrency-94fa3c85e32ec6fd5a55576cf46e58ea)