"Elon Musk, Industry Leaders Reject Pardon for Bitcoin Pioneer Roger Ver"

Elon Musk and other industry leaders have publicly opposed the presidential pardon request of Roger Ver, an early Bitcoin investor facing a potential 109-year prison sentence for tax evasion. Ver, who renounced his US citizenship in 2014, has been charged with failing to report his Bitcoin ownership to the IRS, resulting in a $48 million loss to the US government.

Ver took to social media platform X on January 26, 2025, posting a video message directed at former President Trump, appealing for a pardon. "Mr. President, I am an American, and I need your help. Only you, with your commitment to justice, can save me," Ver stated in his appeal.

Musk, who is set to lead Trump's DOGE agency, responded firmly to Ver's request on X. "Roger Ver gave up his US citizenship. No pardon for Ver. Membership has its privileges," Musk wrote, highlighting Ver's decision to renounce his American citizenship in 2014.

Casa's Chief Security Officer, Jameson Lopp, echoed Musk's position, questioning Ver's claim to American identity. "You aren't an American any more. Remember when you renounced your citizenship?" Lopp posted on X.

Ver's legal troubles stem from charges filed by the US Department of Justice in 2024. According to the DOJ, Ver failed to properly report his Bitcoin holdings to the Internal Revenue Service, resulting in a loss of at least $48 million in tax revenue.

The charges led to Ver's arrest in Spain in April 2024, where he faced allegations of filing false tax returns and tax evasion. These charges came after Ver had already established citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis, following his 2014 renunciation of US citizenship.

On his personal website, Ver has maintained his innocence, claiming the charges are retaliatory. He states that he has been "terrorized by rogue US government agents who hate American freedom" for decades, characterizing the tax evasion and false filing charges as "baseless" and politically motivated.

The case has highlighted the complex intersection of cryptocurrency, taxation, and citizenship rights. Ver's appeal comes at a time of increased scrutiny of cryptocurrency-related tax compliance by US authorities. Local and federal law enforcement agencies continue to investigate Ver's