Key Highlights:
- Roger Ver, aka “Bitcoin Jesus,” faces extradition to the U.S. over alleged tax evasion of $48 million, risking a 109-year prison sentence.
- Ver appeals directly to Donald Trump, claiming the charges are politically motivated due to his Bitcoin activism.
Ladies and Gentlemen of ParadiseClub, how does a Bitcoin pioneer end up in such hot water? Roger Ver, once a champion of Bitcoin’s rise to prominence, now finds himself appealing to former President Donald Trump to block his extradition to the United States.
Ver faces allegations of evading $48 million in taxes after allegedly hiding $240 million from a 2017 Bitcoin sale. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a jaw-dropping 109 years in prison.
Trump: Ver’s “Last Hope”
In a heartfelt plea shared on January 26, Ver called Trump his “last hope” for justice, asserting, “Only you, with your commitment to fairness, can save me.” Ver claims these charges are retaliation for his outspoken advocacy of Bitcoin, which disrupted traditional financial systems. He has long denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that his legal troubles are deeply rooted in politics, not actual crimes.
Ver’s controversial decision to renounce his U.S. citizenship adds a layer of complexity. He has argued that his move was necessary to avoid what he describes as government targeting, but critics, including Elon Musk aren’t as sympathetic. Musk, who initially hinted at supporting clemency, recently dismissed the idea, stating on X: “Roger Ver gave up his US citizenship. No pardon for Ver. Membership has its privileges.”
A Case of Activism or Avoidance?
Supporters argue that Ver’s renunciation was an act of self-preservation. One X user wrote, “It’s unfair to hold this against him now when he was just trying to protect himself from persecution.” Comparisons to Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road founder pardoned during Trump’s presidency, have fueled debates about whether Ver deserves similar clemency.
Despite the support, the odds aren’t in Ver’s favor. Prediction platform Polymarket puts Trump granting clemency to Ver within his first 100 days at just 12%.
A Long Shot for Freedom
Arrested in February at a cryptocurrency conference in Barcelona, Ver’s legal troubles have only deepened. In December, he appealed to a U.S. court to dismiss the charges, labeling them as politically
