Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Jesus' Tax Case Tests Trump-Era Crypto Enforcement Strategy

Roger Ver, a prominent early Bitcoin investor known as "Bitcoin Jesus," has entered into a tentative agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve criminal tax fraud charges that could have seen him face up to 109 years in prison. The proposed settlement, first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by Blockworks, involves Ver paying approximately $48 million to the government. Under the terms of the deferred-prosecution agreement, the charges would be dropped if Ver complies with the agreement's conditions, though the deal has not yet been filed with the court and remains subject to change . The case has drawn attention as part of a broader shift in federal crypto enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration, which has signaled a more lenient approach to high-profile industry figures compared to the Biden administration's aggressive stance .

The DOJ alleges Ver evaded taxes on capital gains from his Bitcoin holdings when he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 to become a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis. Prosecutors claim he underreported the value of his 131,000 Bitcoin holdings at the time, which would have triggered a substantial "exit tax" liability. Ver's legal team has contested these claims, arguing the exit tax is unconstitutional and that the government's case relies on "impermissibly vague foundations." In December 2024, Ver's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss all eight counts against him, a request that has been repeatedly postponed as both sides seek extensions to finalize arguments .

Ver's legal battles extend beyond U.S. courts. Arrested in Spain in April 2024, he has since fought extradition through the European Court of Human Rights, alleging Spain violated his rights by agreeing to surrender him to the U.S. The Spanish government's decision to facilitate extradition, Ver's lawsuit claims, constitutes an "illegitimate restriction on his right to liberty." His legal strategy includes challenging the extradition process itself, with his attorneys asserting that Spain should have refused the request to avoid infringing on Ver's human rights .

The case has also drawn political and community attention. Ver has hired attorneys with ties to Trump's legal defense network, including David Schoen, who represented Trump during his second impeachment, and Christopher Kise, who defended Trump in multiple civil and criminal cases. Additionally, Ver paid $600,000 to political strategist Roger Stone in an effort to influence the case. Meanwhile, crypto advocates like Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin have criticized the DOJ's approach, calling the charges "politically motivated" and the exit tax "extreme." Ulbricht, who was pardoned by Trump in January 2025, has publicly urged the government to drop the case .

The unresolved nature of Ver's case highlights tensions in the crypto industry over regulatory enforcement and individual accountability. While some view Ver as a victim of "lawfare," others argue that renouncing U.S. citizenship forfeits claims to legal protections. The DOJ's case also underscores the IRS's growing sophistication in tracking cryptocurrency transactions, including the use of blockchain clustering analysis to trace Ver's holdings. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome could set precedents for how tax obligations apply to digital asset transactions and expatriation scenarios .

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

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

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

[6] Coindesk (https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/07/17/early-bitcoin-investor-roger-ver-sues-spain-to-prevent-extradition-to-the-us)

[7] Coindoo.com (https://coindoo.com/roger-ver-fights-extradition-to-u-s-over-alleged-48m-tax-evasion/)

[8] Cointelegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/roger-ver-sues-block-us-extradition)