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 Ver’s defense asserts that the case relies on outdated and unclear tax regulations that didn’t fully account for digital assets.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

Cybersecurity enters the quantum age as Global Quantum X launches at GISEC

GQX by GITEX to be hosted alongside GISEC Global 2027 in strategic partnership with UAE…

5 days ago

Carziqo Brings 24/7 AID-DR Autonomous Ride-Hailing Operations to Wyoming

The expanded operating model is designed to improve vehicle availability, average trip value and fleet…

6 days ago

Critical infrastructure, AI security and cyber geopolitics take centre stage on Day 2 of GISEC Global 2026

From ICS/OT security to autonomous SOCs and cyber diplomacy, experts confront threats redefining national and…

6 days ago

Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed opens GISEC Global 2026 and tours event

Middle East and North Africa’s leading cybersecurity platform opens 20% larger than last year, reinforcing…

6 days ago

GISEC Global 2026 concludes with quantum resilience, AI security and the next generation of cyber defenders

Final day confronts post-quantum readiness, AI-enabled cybercrime and operational resilience as established cyber leaders share…

7 days ago

From Threat Visibility to National Resilience: Inside the UAE-Cyble Cybersecurity Partnership

Nations cannot choose when a cyberattack will come. They can choose how prepared they are…

1 week ago