Roger Ver Challenges U.S. Charges, Citing Cryptocurrency Tax Ambiguity

Known as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early support of cryptocurrencies, Roger Ver is currently battling legal charges from the US Department of Justice (DOJ). In April, Ver, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, was taken into custody in Spain. On charges of tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing fraudulent tax returns, authorities are requesting his extradition.

According to the DOJ, Ver underestimated his assets and neglected to declare that he owned 131,000 Bitcoins. Prosecutors claim that when Ver sold $240 million worth of Bitcoin in 2017, these acts created a $48 million tax deficit.

In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson on December 10, Ver denied these accusations, stating, “I wasn’t an American citizen or living in the US at the time these claims were made.” He further argued that the government’s actions are less about taxes and more about his “lack of obedience.”

Ver’s defense highlights the outdated nature of the charges and ambiguities in cryptocurrency taxation laws. His legal team also accused U.S. prosecutors of violating legal safeguards by misusing confidential communications.

Claims of Political Targeting

During his interview, Ver attributed the charges to his outspoken advocacy for cryptocurrency and its potential to challenge governmental control over monetary systems. He alleged that U.S. intelligence agencies have deliberately worked to suppress Bitcoin’s original decentralized vision.

Ver also said that the publication of his book, which he says reveals government meddling in the cryptocurrency industry, coincided with the date of his indictment.

Ver’s legal team responded to the allegations of tax avoidance by claiming that the matter is complicated by the ambiguous tax laws pertaining to digital assets. They underlined that misunderstandings have resulted from the law’s ambiguity around cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Ver’s defense raises concerns about how traditional tax systems and changing rules pertaining to digital assets interact as he continues to fight the charges.