Categories: MarketsMenafn

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.

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 Ver’s defense asserts that the case relies on outdated and unclear tax regulations that didn’t fully account for digital assets.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.”

Jerry Rolon

After working for 7 years as a Internet Marketer, Jerry now aims to explore the journalistic side of Internet. With his impeccable knowledge in this domain, he churns out some of the best news articles from the internet niche. With respect to acedamics, Jerry earned a degree in business from California State University.

Recent Posts

Bitcoin ETF flows turn positive with $137M inflow after $390M outflow week

US spot bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $137.3 million on August 17, reversing…

11 hours ago

Why Catrina Bodamer Says Your Best Ideas Won’t Come from Staying in One Discipline

Catrina Bodamer, a litigation consultant and Chartered Financial Analyst based in Atlanta, Georgia, explains why…

20 hours ago

Austen Hacker Explains Why Healthcare Trust Starts With Everyday Conversations

Arkansas pharmacist Austen Hacker shares how small, consistent interactions build the foundation for patient safety…

20 hours ago

Mark Siegwald Debunks 5 Myths About Property Damage Claims That Cost You Time and Money

Mark Siegwald, a Senior Consultant with Bower Building Consulting in Chicago, separates fact from fiction…

1 day ago

Christopher Reep Says Experience Is Becoming One of Manufacturing’s Biggest Challenges

Operations leader and Lean expert Christopher Reep is encouraging manufacturers to make knowledge sharing part…

1 day ago

Dr. Robert Guarino Highlights the Critical Role of Pathology in Breast Care

Breast pathologist Dr. Robert Guarino explains what happens behind the scenes after a biopsy and…

1 day ago