Roger Ver, often called "Bitcoin Jesus", is at the center of a legal battle with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), facing accusations of tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing false tax returns.
The US pushed for his extradition after his arrest in Spain this past April. Ver, however, insists that the allegations are politically motivated and have little to do with taxes.
In an interview with Tucker Carlson on December 10, he defended himself, arguing that the real issue is his support for decentralized currencies. According to Ver, the US government’s actions are more about punishing his resistance than legal wrongdoing.
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Additionally, Ver suggested that his increased scrutiny may be linked to his recently published book, which criticizes government involvement in the cryptocurrency sector. He also argued that intelligence agencies have actively sought to weaken Bitcoin’s
However, according to the DOJ allegations, Ver misrepresented the value of two companies when he renounced his US citizenship in 2014.
They also claim that he concealed ownership of approximately 131,000 Bitcoin, worth about $240 million during a 2017 sale, which led to a $48 million tax deficit. Additionally, the DOJ accuses him of failing to disclose financial gains from his Bitcoin transactions.
Ver’s legal team has pushed back, arguing that the cryptocurrency tax regulations at the time were unclear. They have also accused the DOJ of mishandling private information and crossing legal lines in their investigation.
Just weeks before the legal battle between Bitcoin Jesus and the DOJ begins, Ver accused intelligence agencies of weakening Bitcoin’s decentralized mission. What led to these claims? Read the full story.
