Notable figures such as Vitalik Buterin, Ross Ulbricht, and Tucker Carlson are making a collective appeal to President Donald Trump, advocating for a pardon for Roger Ver, widely recognized in the cryptocurrency community as Bitcoin Jesus.

Roger Ver, famously dubbed Bitcoin Jesus due to his pioneering endorsement of Bitcoin during its formative years, now faces the looming threat of up to 109 years in prison related to severe tax charges. These charges include serious accusations of evading a staggering $48 million in taxes. Despite his proactive decision to renounce his U.S. citizenship back in 2014, a move he believed would protect him from prosecution, Ver’s legal difficulties have resurfaced dramatically with his arrest in Spain in 2024. Given the precedents set by previous pardons granted by Trump—most notably for figures like Ulbricht and the BitMEX co-founders—there’s considerable speculation regarding whether Ver might be granted similar clemency. The question on everyone’s lips remains: Will a pardon be forthcoming, or are Ver’s legal challenges just beginning?

To delve deeper into this unfolding story, keep reading.

Camaraderie in Crypto

In the wake of Trump’s growing embrace of cryptocurrency, multiple leaders within the cryptocurrency world endorsed him, throwing financial support behind his inauguration and mingling at various high-profile events.

Trump’s favorable approach to cryptocurrency was met with celebration from industry titans, who saw a bright horizon ahead. In exchange for their support, Trump took significant steps to bolster the industry, such as signing orders that allowed the stockpiling of tokens. Remarkably, during his presidency, investigations into major cryptocurrency firms like Immutable, Crypto.com, Ripple, and Coinbase were abruptly called off under Trump-appointed SEC chair Mark Uyeda.

On March 27, a critical development unfolded when Trump extended pardons to the BitMEX co-founders—Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed—who had pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to money laundering and operational violations. The trio, which had faced accusations of creating what prosecutors labeled a “money laundering platform”, seemed to find a silver lining under Trump’s leniency, as even those with checkered pasts found redemption. This political landscape has ignited speculation that Roger Ver, a significant personality in cryptocurrency circles, may similarly be favored by a presidential pardon.

Ver, rooted in Silicon Valley and driven by libertarian principles, has been a pivotal player in cryptocurrency, having made investments in emerging platforms like Kraken, Ripple, and Blockchain.com. Back in 2017, he passionately promoted Bitcoin Cash (BCH) as a currency better suited for daily transactions, amplifying the discourse around cryptocurrency’s practical applications.

Roger Ver’s Journey

Roger Ver’s journey is as much about his beliefs as it is about his actions. By the age of 20, he was actively engaging in libertarian party debates, expressing profound disdain for government authority. In these debates, he made direct references to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), calling them “murderers” while recalling their controversial roles in tragic events like the Waco Siege, which saw innocent lives lost during confrontations involving law enforcement and the Branch Davidian cult. Little did he know, some ATF agents were present in those discussions, adding tension to his provocative statements.

As he moved through the 2000s, Ver ventured into e-commerce while dabbling in firecracker sales on eBay. After facing prosecution for selling illegal firecrackers, he spent 10 months behind bars, a conversion experience that convinced him of a politically driven agenda behind his legal troubles. Following his release, and feeling the weight of governmental scrutiny, he departed from the United States, seeking refuge in countries that resonated with his libertarian values.

Fast forward to 2011, Ver’s encounter with Bitcoin transformed his life’s work. He became one of its earliest investors, championing its cause long before it gained mainstream traction. He directed multi-million-dollar investments into Bitcoin, striving to elevate its significance in global conversations about economic freedom, independence from excessive governmental influence, and the empowerment of individual choice in financial matters.

legal-fight”>The legal Battle Begins

In 2014, Ver took up citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis, claiming that lengthy government targeting had forced him to relinquish his U.S. citizenship. The situation escalated in April 2024 when Ver was indicted and arrested in Spain due to accusations of U.S. tax evasion and mail fraud. Reports suggest he reportedly has evaded a staggering $48 million in taxes, stemming from earnings potentially amounting to half a billion dollars through his cryptocurrency ventures.

The prosecution argues that Ver neglected to pay his compulsory “exit tax” on a substantial holding of 131,000 BTC linked to his businesses when he exited the U.S., and they further allege he misrepresented information to his legal counsel who filed his tax documentation. Allegedly, Ver sold portions of his Bitcoin portfolio in 2017, neglecting to inform his lawyers of this transaction.

Ver counters these allegations, claiming that the accusations of mail fraud—three in total, cumulatively punishable by up to 19 years in prison—are rooted solely in letters containing his tax returns he submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He firmly denies having committed tax evasion or mail fraud, maintaining that he endeavored to adhere to nascent Bitcoin taxation regulations and views the charges as part of a politically orchestrated effort to undermine him.

Since December, Ver has resolutely embarked on his legal fight against these accusations. He filed a motion to dismiss the charges, encountering a swift rejection from government authorities in January. His legal representatives aim to nullify the exit tax, framing it as an “unconstitutional burden” on the fundamental right to expatriate, particularly for individuals with substantial low-liquidity assets like Ver. The government, however, brands him a fugitive, a label he vehemently disputes, asserting he has not fled and has committed no crimes while residing in the U.S.

In a pivotal moment, Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin took to social media to stress that the exit tax is a relic found in few other nations, branding it as a “tax-by-citizenship” that is excessively punitive. Buterin noted that information alleged to have been obtained by the IRS was acquired through intimidation tactics against Ver’s legal team. He stated emphatically:

“Genuine good faith mistakes should be treated by giving the actor the opportunity to pay back taxes if needed with interest and penalties, not with prosecution.”

Will Bitcoin Jesus Receive a Pardon?

Trump has previously promised to pardon Ross Ulbricht, the infamous figure associated with the Silk Road marketplace, charged with an array of serious offenses including money laundering and drug trafficking. Notably, Ulbricht’s actions played a pivotal role in driving Bitcoin’s adoption, solidifying his place in the cryptocurrency narrative. Trump eventually granted Ulbricht a pardon, garnering substantial acclaim.

Following the pardon of Ulbricht, advocates within the cryptocurrency space began to vocalize their desire for Trump to extend similar mercy to Roger Ver. On January 21, 2025, a prominent social media influencer, known as Rothmus, posted a call for Ver’s pardon that captured the attention of Elon Musk, who replied, “will inquire.” This exchange ignited optimism among Ver’s supporters that Bitcoin Jesus could soon receive much-deserved clemency.

On March 17, Marla Maples, the ex-wife of Trump, shared a heartfelt video on social media featuring individuals recounting their experiences with Ver and his longstanding generosity. This moment added to the growing calls for Ver’s pardon but left uncertain whether it made it onto Trump’s radar.