Roger Ver, ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ settles US tax case for $49.9 million – Crypto News – Crypto News
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Roger Ver, ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ settles US tax case for $49.9 million Roger Ver, ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ settles US tax case for $49.9 million

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Roger Ver, ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ settles US tax case for $49.9 million – Crypto News

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Roger Ver – one of the earliest adopters of Bitcoin and among the community’s most outspoken figures – has agreed to pay nearly $50 million to settle a tax case with the US government.

According to a court filing on Tuesday, Ver reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice (DoJ). In exchange for a $49.9 million payment, prosecutors will not pursue a federal indictment over tax evasion tied to his Bitcoin holdings.

Ver earned the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus” for his enthusiasm in promoting the digital currency during its early years, often giving Bitcoin away to others to raise awareness of the cryptocurrency. By 2014, Ver reportedly controlled more than 130,000 Bitcoins – now worth over $14 billion at current prices. That same year, he renounced his US citizenship and became a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean nation known for lax tax regime.

When he gave up his US citizenship, Ver was legally required to pay an exit tax on his assets, including Bitcoin holdings. According to prosecutors, he failed to pay taxes on roughly $17 million in capital gains. The nearly $49.9 million settlement includes his tax liability, a civil penalty, and interest.

Neither Ver’s legal team nor the DoJ commented on the deal. The New York Times first reported news of the settlement last week before the court filing became public.

“The resolution sends a clear message: whether you deal in dollars or digital assets, you must file accurate tax returns and pay what you owe,” said Associate Deputy Attorney General Ketan Bhirud.

Softer cryptocurrency enforcement under Trump

The deal also highlights a shift in how the US administration now approaches cryptocurrency-related prosecutions under Donald Trump’s executive leadership.

Shortly after returning to office in January, the president pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, an online market that allowed users to buy and sell illegal goods and services. Ulbricht had become a symbol of libertarian resistance and a cult figure in the early cryptocurrency scene for creating the decentralised marketplace, which operated outside government oversight.

In April, the administration disbanded the DoJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) – a unit formed to handle crimes involving digital assets – confirming the perception that the White House is easing up on cryptocurrency-related enforcement.

Meanwhile, Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, is reportedly seeking a presidential pardon. Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 to violating US anti-money laundering laws and served 4 months in prison as part of his settlement with the DoJ. He remains barred from operating businesses in the US unless the conviction is overturned or pardoned.

The recent settlements, pardons, and enforcement changes mark a clear departure from previous years, when regulators took a firm legal stance on cryptocurrency. Now, the industry’s most controversial figures appear to be finding more room to negotiate with Washington on any legal violations they may commit.

(Photo by Kanchanara)

See also: US SEC weighs tokenised stock trading on cryptocurrency exchanges

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