Roger Ver, an investor famously known as “Bitcoin Jesus” in crypto circles, has reached a $48 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) to end a high-profile tax fraud case. The agreement marks one of the most notable reversals in crypto enforcement under the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to a New York Times report, Ver, known for his early Bitcoin evangelism, will pay the amount to resolve charges of fraud and tax evasion. The deal is structured as a deferred-prosecution agreement, meaning charges will be dropped if he meets the terms.
Prosecutors had accused Ver of failing to pay taxes on his cryptocurrency holdings when he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014. The settlement has not yet been filed in court, so details may still change.
A shift in crypto enforcement
Ver’s settlement reflects a softer approach to crypto enforcement under the Trump-era policies. The current approach seems softer in comparison to the Biden administration that was taking aggressive action against digital asset cases.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped legal action against major exchanges like Coinbase, while Trump granted pardons to industry figures such as Ross Ulbricht and BitMEX founders.
Federal regulators, including the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), are still focused on aligning crypto rules, with SEC Chair Paul Atkins stating that cryptocurrency regulation remains a top priority.
Ver’s political ties and lobbying efforts
Roger Ver, 46, was arrested in Spain last year as the DoJ sought his extradition. He reportedly hid the value of his Bitcoin holdings before giving up U.S. citizenship.
Over the course of the case, Ver spent heavily on lobbying, including paying $600,000 to longtime Trump associate Roger Stone, and hired attorneys connected to Trump’s legal teams. He also appealed directly to Trump, claiming political bias.
Ver’s settlement could signal wider leniency toward crypto figures accused of past wrongdoing. Another point that the case raises is the impact that political connections and early cryptocurrency adoption can have on high-profile legal cases.
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