Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Jesus Roger Ver Sues Spain to Block US Extradition

Roger Ver, an early supporter of Bitcoin, has initiated legal action against Spain at the European Court of Human Rights to prevent his extradition to the United States. Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his advocacy during the cryptocurrency's early days, alleges that Spanish authorities infringed upon his fundamental rights by approving the U.S. extradition request. The lawsuit was filed last month.

The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Ver in 2024 on multiple charges, including tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing false returns. He was arrested in Spain in April of that year and subsequently released on bail pending extradition. The core of the case revolves around Ver’s renunciation of his U.S. citizenship in 2014, which under U.S. tax law, triggers an “exit tax” on unrealized capital gains. Prosecutors claim Ver failed to declare the full value of his bitcoin holdings at the time, resulting in significant tax liabilities. They estimate he owes the IRS $48 million.

The Justice Department also alleges that in 2017, Ver concealed $240 million worth of additional crypto gains through his U.S.-registered companies, MemoryDealers and Agilestar. Despite his change in citizenship, authorities argue he was still legally obligated to report dividends and distributions from those corporations. In December, Ver moved to dismiss all eight criminal counts, arguing that the exit tax is unconstitutional and that the government’s case is legally vague. While that motion remains unresolved, Ver’s lawsuit in Europe appears aimed at delaying or derailing extradition efforts.

Ver has also appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump for a pardon and enjoys vocal support from a small but loyal group of crypto advocates—some of whom liken his prosecution to a broader crackdown on early crypto entrepreneurs. If extradited and convicted on all counts, Ver faces up to 109 years in prison. Ver’s campaign draws parallels to Trump’s recent pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, but reactions from the crypto community remain polarized. Some sympathize with Ver’s claims, while others argue he deserves to face legal consequences.

In a video released in January, Ver described himself as an American at heart, despite officially holding a St. Kitts and Nevis passport since renouncing his U.S. citizenship over a decade ago. He attributed his decision to leave the U.S. to ideological concerns and fears of government persecution, citing a past federal prison term linked to selling unlicensed fireworks as evidence of bias against him. Ver is the founder of Bitcoin.com, a crypto news and information site that provides a variety of related services, including a media outlet, crypto casino and a mobile wallet.