"Ulbricht Calls for Ver's Freedom: 'Bitcoin Jesus' Faces Decades in Prison"

Ross Ulbricht, the recently pardoned creator of the defunct darknet marketplace Silk Road, has called for the release of Roger Ver, also known as "Bitcoin Jesus," who is facing a potential decades-long prison sentence for alleged tax evasion. In a statement released on Feb. 20, Ulbricht expressed his gratitude towards Ver for supporting him during his imprisonment and urged the public to show the same support for Ver in his current predicament.

Ver, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency community, was arrested in Spain last April on criminal charges from the US. He is accused of tax evasion, filing false tax returns, and fraud. US authorities are seeking his extradition to the US, where he could face a potential sentence of up to 109 years behind bars. The charges stem from Ver's alleged failure to report significant capital gains from Bitcoin sales and underreporting the value of two companies when he renounced his US citizenship for a Japanese one in 2014.

The IRS exit tax requires US citizens to pay all necessary taxes before renouncing their citizenship and removing themselves from the country's taxation system. Prosecutors allege that Ver concealed 131,000 Bitcoin, worth nearly $240 million at the time of sale in 2017, leading to a $48 million tax shortfall. Ver has denied the allegations, arguing that there were barriers to submitting an appropriate exit tax request, including a lack of liquid markets for Bitcoin at the time.

In a video posted to X on Jan. 26, Ver asked US President Donald Trump for help, stating that only Trump's "commitment to justice can save me." Trump had previously pledged to pardon Ulbricht during his presidential campaign and followed through on that promise on Jan. 21, freeing Ulbricht after 12 years in prison. Ulbricht was facing life behind bars after being sentenced to 40 years plus two life sentences for founding the Silk Road.

Ulbricht's pardon has sparked debate about the narrative of Bitcoin as a crime tool. Some argue that Ulbricht's actions were an isolated incident, while others point to the potential for cryptocurrencies to be used in illicit activities. Ver's case has also raised questions about the tax treatment of cryptocurrencies and the potential for unfair treatment of early adopters who may have difficulty