Tentative Deal and Massive Tax Bill
Roger Ver — once dubbed 'Bitcoin Jesus' for his early evangelism of bitcoin — has reached a tentative deal with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve criminal tax fraud charges, according to The New York Times reporting. The agreement, still awaiting court approval, would require Ver to pay roughly $48 million in back taxes. In return, prosecutors would drop the case if he meets the terms of a deferred-prosecution deal.
The case against Ver, filed in 2024, accused him of evading taxes tied to his massive bitcoin holdings before renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014. He was arrested in Spain last year as prosecutors sought extradition. If finalized, the deal would mark a sharp turn for one of crypto's most controversial pioneers — and signal that Washington's tone toward digital assets is shifting once again.
Ver's Massive Bitcoin Holdings and Tax Evasion Details
Ver's indictment claims that Ver gave false or misleading information to a law firm and an appraiser, hiding the true number of bitcoin owned by him and his companies. This allegedly led to the filing of false tax returns that significantly undervalued both the companies and their bitcoin holdings. By 2017, Ver's companies reportedly still held around 70,000 bitcoins, which he sold on cryptocurrency exchanges for roughly $240 million.
Although he was not a U.S. citizen at the time, Ver was still legally required to report certain distributions to the IRS and pay taxes on them. The indictment says he failed to do so, resulting in an estimated $48 million loss to the IRS. The potential settlement comes as the Trump administration continues to unwind a yearslong federal crackdown on crypto.
Ver's defense leaned into Trump's pro-bitcoin political currents. He paid longtime Trump ally Roger Stone $600,000 and hired lawyers tied to the former president — including David Schoen and Christopher Kise — as well as the lobbying firm of GOP fundraiser Brian Ballard, according to The New York Times. In January, Ver publicly appealed to Trump for help, claiming his case was politically motivated and warning he faced a potential 100-year sentence. Neither the Justice Department nor Ver has commented publicly on the reported agreement.