Bitcoin News Today: Trump-Era Crypto Enforcement Shifts as Bitcoin Jesus Settles $48M Tax Case

Roger Ver, a prominent cryptocurrency investor known as "Bitcoin Jesus," has reached a tentative deferred-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to settle criminal tax fraud charges, agreeing to pay approximately $48 million in restitution. The case, filed in 2024, accused Ver of evading taxes on his digital currency holdings after renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014. Under the terms of the agreement, which has not yet been finalized in court, the charges would be dropped if Ver complies with the payment and compliance conditions.

The indictment alleged that Ver concealed the value of his Bitcoin portfolio before expatriation, leading to the filing of false tax returns that significantly undervalued his assets. Prosecutors claimed he failed to report $48 million in taxes owed on proceeds from the sale of approximately 70,000 bitcoins held by his companies by 2017. Despite no longer being a U.S. citizen, Ver remained legally obligated to report certain distributions to the IRS and pay taxes on them.

The settlement reflects a broader shift in federal crypto enforcement under the Trump administration, which has eased pressure on high-profile industry figures after years of scrutiny under the Biden administration. Ver's defense strategy leveraged political connections, including hiring attorneys associated with Trump's legal team, such as David Schoen and Christopher Kise, as well as lobbying firm founder Brian Ballard. Additionally, Ver paid $600,000 to Trump ally Roger Stone in an effort to influence the case.

The case also highlights regulatory scrutiny of cryptocurrency expatriates. Ver's 2014 citizenship renunciation triggered an investigation under the HEART Act, which imposes an "exit tax" on unrealized capital gains for expatriates with significant U.S. tax liabilities. The settlement may set a precedent for future actions targeting expatriated crypto holders, though analysts suggest it is unlikely to cause immediate market volatility.

Ver, arrested in Spain in 2024, had previously challenged extradition to the U.S. and argued that the exit tax was unconstitutional. His legal team sought to dismiss all eight charges, including mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. The case has drawn mixed reactions from the crypto community, with some praising Ver's early advocacy for Bitcoin Cash while others criticize his decision to renounce citizenship.

The resolution underscores the Trump administration's approach to crypto regulation, which has included rolling back enforcement actions against industry figures. Recent examples include the SEC dropping lawsuits against Coinbase and other exchanges, as well as Trump pardoning Ross Ulbricht and BitMEX founders. Ver's case, however, remains a landmark in the U.S. government's pursuit of tax compliance in the crypto sector.

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

[3] Kanalcoin (https://www.kanalcoin.com/roger-ver-us-tax-fraud-settlement/)

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

[8] Cryptobriefing (https://cryptobriefing.com/roger-ver-doj-tax-crypto-settlement-48m/)

[10] Cryptonews (https://cryptonews.net/news/legal/31769091/)

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