Roger Ver Claims US Charges Are Political Retaliation Over Bitcoin Advocacy, Not Tax Evasion

Popular crypto advocate Roger Ver, or “Bitcoin Jesus,” is contesting US tax evasion allegations.

He claimed the US government is targeting him because he supports Bitcoin (BTC), not for tax evasion reasons. Roger Ver refuted the charges in an interview with Tucker Carlson on Dec. 10, claiming his advocacy of cryptocurrencies motivated the charges.

Roger Ver is facing life in prison for revealing how the US government worked secretly to subvert cryptocurrency and prevent economic freedom. More people should hear this story.

(0:00) Roger Ver Facing Extradition
(7:49) The Hijacking of Bitcoin
(12:18) How the Government… pic.twitter.com/nchtsmsovn

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) December 10, 2024

Ver, who gave up his US citizenship in 2014, was arrested in Spain in April by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), alleging his involvement in mail fraud, tax evasion, and fraudulent tax filings. The DOJ alleged that Roger Ver failed to report ownership of around 131,000 BTC and understated the value of his assets, which led to a $48 million tax shortfall.

However, Ver disputed these claims, pointing to a lack of clear cryptocurrency tax laws. He also argued that US prosecutors misused his confidential communications.

Tax Law Dispute

The DoJ further alleged that Roger Ver concealed 131,000 BTC, which were sold for $240 million in 2017, resulting in a $48 million tax gap. Ver’s defense asserts that the case relies on outdated and unclear tax regulations that didn’t fully account for digital assets.

His legal team argues that the IRS exit tax is vague and its application to Bitcoin was not defined when he renounced his citizenship. The exit tax requires US citizens to pay taxes before relinquishing their citizenship, but the cryptocurrencies’ provisions were unclear.

Roger Ver’s Political Retaliation Claims

Ver maintains that the charges stem from his advocacy for Bitcoin rather than tax issues. He believes the US government is using tax law to suppress cryptocurrencies, which he argues threaten centralized control of money.

He further claimed that US intelligence agencies are involved in a broader effort to limit Bitcoin’s influence. The release of his new book, in which he discusses government interference in the crypto industry, reinforced his allegations of political retaliation.

Ver claimed his support for Bitcoin has made him a target as the US seeks to suppress decentralized finance. On Dec. 3, Roger Ver filed a motion to dismiss the charges, calling them “unconstitutional.”