Bitcoin Jesus Is Free from the DOJ – But at a Huge Cost

Roger Ver, more popularly known as Bitcoin Jesus, has reached a tentative deal with the US Department of Justice over fraud and tax evasion charges. 

The agreement stipulates that Ver must pay $48 million in taxes he owes on his digital currency holdings to drop the charges against him.

Bitcoin Jesus Secures Provisional Deal

Bitcoin Jesus, a leading cryptocurrency advocate, may be exonerated from charges of filing a false tax return and evading taxes.

According to reports, Ver reached a provisional deferred-prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice. Under the deal’s terms, Ver would have to pay the $48 million he owes in taxes.

The agreement is still preliminary and subject to change. Yet, its finalization would join several clemency actions granted under US President Donald Trump toward the crypto industry.

Ver’s Arrest and the Industry’s Plea for Pardon

In February 2024, law enforcement arrested Ver at a crypto conference in Barcelona, Spain. He faces charges in the US for allegedly evading over $48 million in taxes and filing a false tax return.

The charges are based on the sale of $240 million worth of cryptocurrencies and an “exit tax” linked to Ver’s renunciation of US citizenship in 2014.

Ver’s legal team has consistently dismissed the indictment as politically motivated. Since the charges were brought against him during Joe Biden’s presidency, they claimed it represented the former administration’s heavy-handed approach to crypto enforcement. 

Over the past year, several crypto leaders have pushed for Ver’s pardon. Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, Elon Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the time, committed himself to exploring clemency for Ver.

In March, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin suggested in a social media post that authorities may target Ver because of his outspoken views on personal freedoms. He argued that the government should focus on recovering unpaid taxes rather than pursuing harsh legal action.

Buterin drew parallels to the case of Ross Ulbricht, the creator of Silk Road. Ulbricht was previously sentenced to a double life term for conspiracy charges related to narcotics distribution, money laundering, and computer hacking.

Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, Ulbricht was pardoned.

Some members of the crypto community celebrated the news of Ver’s potential pardon. However, critics expressed concern that it may represent another example of the crypto sector receiving special treatment.

Government Retreat from Crypto Enforcement 

Ver’s case may become another example of the Trump administration’s reduced crypto enforcement against the cryptocurrency sector.

Ver consistently connected his case to Trump’s broader allegations of a weaponized justice system. According to reports, in April, Ver paid $600,000 to Roger Stone, a longtime associate of President Donald Trump, to try to abolish the tax provisions central to the case. Additionally, Ver retained David Schoen, a lawyer who had represented the President during his second impeachment trial.

The SEC’s significant shift from its previous “regulation by enforcement” approach further exemplifies Trump’s “light touch” on crypto enforcement.

Earlier this year, the SEC dismissed its high-profile civil enforcement action against Coinbase and agreed to settle its long-running case against Ripple Labs. The regulator has also closed investigations into other major platforms like OpenSea and Robinhood. In April, the administration also shuttered the Department of Justice’s crypto enforcement team.