Roger Ver has publicly pleaded for help from U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing fears that he might quickly face extradition from Spain to america.
In a video posted on X, he said that he could possibly be sentenced to as much as 109 years in jail for what he described as “activism inside cryptocurrency.”
The Plea
Ver described himself as the primary individual to spend money on the Bitcoin ecosystem, emphasizing his American roots and the beliefs that impressed his ardour for crypto. He defined that he might quickly be imprisoned in Spain and extradited to the U.S., doubtlessly dealing with as much as 109 years in jail.
The Bitcoin proponent alleged that U.S. authorities have been utilizing “lawfare” to focus on him due to his political beliefs and crypto advocacy, likening his state of affairs to Trump’s experiences.
He additionally defined that he had renounced his citizenship in 2014 to keep away from authorities harassment, calling it a painful determination compelled by those that opposed his beliefs.
The video concluded with him stressing, “Please, Donald Trump, I would like your assist to assist me win this lawsuit and permit me to return dwelling in order that I may help you make America nice once more.”
The 46-year-old’s affiliation with Bitcoin started in 2011 when the asset was priced underneath $1. In early interviews, he was quoted saying he was captivated by its potential to disrupt conventional monetary programs.
On the time, he invested over $1 million into early startups, together with now-prominent corporations like Blockchain.com, Kraken, and Ripple. His advocacy for the flagship cryptocurrency earned him the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus” and established him as one in every of its most outstanding early adopters.
Bitcoin Jesus’ Authorized Troubles
Ver renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 and have become a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Regardless of this, the legislation required him to file tax returns and report capital features from the sale of his world property, together with Bitcoin.
The U.S. Division of Justice indicted him in April 2024 on fees of mail fraud, tax evasion, and submitting false tax returns. Prosecutors claimed he defrauded the IRS of roughly $48 million by failing to report capital features from his crypto holdings.
He was later arrested in Spain in Could and launched on bail underneath the situation that he stay within the nation whereas awaiting doable extradition to america. Nonetheless, the Bitcoin proponent’s authorized crew is contesting the fees, arguing that the U.S. tax guidelines on the time didn’t present clear steerage for crypto pioneers like him.
Trump, recognized for his new-found crypto-friendly strategy, is now being known as upon to intervene in Ver’s authorized battle. The President just lately pardoned Silk Street founder Ross Ulbricht, a determine celebrated inside the crypto group.
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