Roger Ver has made a public appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, fearing possible extradition from Spain to the United States. In a video posted on X, Ver expressed his concern about facing a potential sentence of up to 109 years in prison for what he terms as “activism within cryptocurrency.”
**The Plea**
Roger Ver described himself as the first investor in the Bitcoin ecosystem, highlighting his American heritage and the principles that fueled his cryptocurrency passion. He mentioned the possibility of imprisonment in Spain and subsequent extradition to the U.S., where he could face a lengthy sentence. Ver accused U.S. authorities of using “lawfare” against him due to his political views and advocacy for crypto, drawing parallels to Trump’s experiences. He also revealed that he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 to escape government harassment, describing it as a painful but necessary decision due to opposition to his beliefs. The video ends with Ver urging Trump for assistance, saying, “Please, Donald Trump, I need your help to help me win this lawsuit and allow me to come home so that I can help you make America great again.”
Ver’s association with Bitcoin dates back to 2011 when the asset was valued below $1. Known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” he invested over $1 million in early startups like Blockchain.com, Kraken, and Ripple, becoming a prominent early adopter of the cryptocurrency.
**Bitcoin Jesus’ Legal Troubles**
In 2014, Ver renounced his U.S. citizenship and became a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Despite this, he was required to file tax returns and report capital gains from global asset sales, including Bitcoin. In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted him on charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns, alleging he defrauded the IRS of around $48 million by not reporting capital gains from his crypto holdings. Arrested in Spain in May, he was released on bail with the condition of staying in the country while facing potential extradition to the U.S. Ver’s legal team is challenging the charges, claiming that U.S. tax laws at the time lacked clear guidance for crypto pioneers like him. Trump, who has taken a more crypto-friendly stance, is being asked to intervene. The President recently pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road founder, a figure admired within the crypto community.
Twitter: @rogerkver appeals for Trump’s help to avoid extradition and fight legal battles over his crypto activism. #BitcoinJesus
