The United States Department of Justice has filed charges against Roger Ver, a prominent early investor in Bitcoin (BTC) who is often referred to as “Bitcoin Jesus.” Ver was arrested in Spain on April 30 based on criminal charges in the U.S., including mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. The U.S. government alleges that Ver defrauded the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of approximately $48 million by failing to report capital gains on his sale of Bitcoin and other assets.
According to an indictment filed on February 15 and unsealed on April 29, Ver allegedly gained control of about 70,000 BTC in June 2017 and sold a significant portion of them for $240 million. U.S. officials intend to extradite Ver from Spain to face trial in the United States.
The reaction to Ver’s arrest on social media has been mixed, with some supporting the charges and others expressing opposition. Dan Held, a Bitcoin enthusiast and former growth lead at Kraken, believes that Ver deserves the consequences of his actions, as he believes Ver played a significant role in causing division within the Bitcoin community and undermining the cryptocurrency’s potential.
In addition to his involvement with Bitcoin, Ver was also a proponent of Bitcoin Cash (BCH). In 2022, he found himself involved in a scandal with crypto investment platform CoinFlex, which claimed that Ver owed them $47 million in USD Coin (USDC). Ver has not made any public statements regarding the charges brought against him by the Justice Department.
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how Ver’s legal situation will unfold, and what impact it will have on the cryptocurrency community. Ver’s arrest and the subsequent legal proceedings serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to legal and regulatory requirements in the cryptocurrency industry.
(Image: Roger Ver)