‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Roger Ver fights indictment, alleging government overreach

Roger Ver Contests Tax Evasion Indictment on Claims of Bias

Roger Ver, arrested in Barcelona in April 2024, has filed a motion to dismiss an indictment accusing him of evading taxes on Bitcoin sales. The former CEO of Bitcoin.com is charged with evading over $48 million in taxes.

Ver's lawyers allege that the indictment was biased, influenced by government prejudice. They argue that the Department of Justice inappropriately accessed confidential attorney-client communications and concealed evidence from the grand jury.

Ver claims he acted reasonably, following professional advice based on limited regulatory guidance at the time. He anticipates being a political target for the IRS after his expatriation and asserts that the IRS provided clear guidance on crypto-taxes only after his move to Spain.

The indictment alleges that by June 2017, Ver's companies owned approximately 70,000 bitcoins, requiring payment of an "exit tax" on capital gains. Ver and his companies are accused of owning approximately 131,000 bitcoins valued at $871 each in February 2014.

The case has sparked criticism from the crypto community, who condemn the U.S. Department of Justice's enforcement-first approach to digital assets. Critics like Robert Barnes, a civil rights attorney supporting Ver, describe the charges as selective enforcement based on political considerations.

Ver's motion to dismiss coincides with expectations of a more favorable stance towards digital assets under the incoming Trump administration. Ver's trial is scheduled for February 2025 and hinges upon extradition.