worldcoinindex.com
Roger Ver — famously dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early evangelism of cryptocurrency — has reportedly reached a tentative settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve his long-running tax evasion and fraud case.
According to multiple reports, Ver has agreed to pay approximately $48 million in back taxes tied to his crypto holdings, potentially paving the way for all criminal charges against him to be dropped. The deal remains provisional, pending final approval by the DOJ, but could mark one of the most high-profile crypto-related settlements of 2025.
Ver, a central figure in Bitcoin’s early days and a proponent of Bitcoin Cash (BCH), had been accused of evading over $48 million in taxes through undeclared gains from roughly $240 million worth of crypto sales. The charges stemmed from an “exit tax” connected to his renunciation of U.S. citizenship in 2014 — a move that allowed him to relocate overseas.
The Justice Department arrested Ver in February 2024 during a crypto conference in Barcelona. His legal team has since maintained that the case was politically motivated, claiming it represented the Biden administration’s aggressive stance toward the digital asset sector.
In contrast, the new Trump administration appears to be taking a markedly softer approach toward crypto enforcement. The tentative deal with Ver aligns with several clemency and settlement actions seen since President Trump’s return to office, signaling a broader regulatory shift.
High-profile figures in the crypto space have voiced support for Ver. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin previously criticized authorities for targeting Ver’s advocacy of personal freedoms, arguing that governments should prioritize tax recovery over punitive measures. He drew parallels between Ver’s situation and that of Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road creator who received a presidential pardon shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
Sources also revealed that Ver enlisted the help of Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally, reportedly paying $600,000 to assist in dismantling the tax provisions central to his indictment. Ver’s legal representation includes David Schoen, who previously defended Trump during his second impeachment trial.
Meanwhile, the broader regulatory climate continues to shift. The SEC’s reversal from its “regulation by enforcement” strategy — including the dismissal of its civil suits against Coinbase and Ripple Labs, and the closure of investigations into OpenSea and Robinhood — underscores the administration’s pivot toward industry cooperation over punishment.
If finalized, Ver’s settlement would not only close a decade-long legal saga but also symbolize a turning point in U.S. crypto governance, where compliance and restitution may increasingly replace prosecution and penalties.