Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Voices Support in Roger Ver Tax Case

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, publicly criticized the potential life sentence facing Roger Ver over alleged nonviolent tax offenses. Buterin described the case as politically driven and the punishment as wildly disproportionate to the accusations. His comments add a significant voice to an ongoing debate that has already captured attention across the cryptocurrency world, legal circles, and libertarian communities.

The remarks came shortly after Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, spoke out in defense of Ver, pointing to what he called an unjust legal pursuit tied to Ver’s tax-related issues. This exchange between two influential figures has sparked widespread discussion about fairness and the application of law in such cases.

Buterin’s statement emphasized that sentencing someone to life in prison for nonviolent tax offenses defies reason. He pointed out that numerous individuals and major corporations have faced allegations of far graver misconduct yet walked away with lighter consequences.

Ver, a vocal advocate for personal freedom and a critic of overreaching government authority, should not face such a harsh fate for his stance, Buterin argued. His perspective sheds light on broader concerns about whether the judicial system is being used to send a message rather than deliver impartial justice. Buterin’s supportive remarks join a long list of influential tech entrepreneurs and people who have all voiced support for Roger Ver, which you can see on FreeRogerNow.org.

A Call for Fairness and Reform

Buterin went further, questioning the practice of selective prosecution and its impact on fundamental rights. He suggested that targeting individuals like Roger Ver undermines constitutional protections, including free speech enshrined in the First Amendment. To illustrate his point, he highlighted the unusual nature of U.S. tax policies, such as taxation based on citizenship and the exit tax regime. Few countries impose similar rules, he noted, and even among those that do, the U.S. approach stands out as unusually strict. For example, he compared it to the United Kingdom, where capital gains taxes apply only if a person returns within five years. This international perspective underscores his call for a reevaluation of how tax enforcement is applied.

Adding to his concerns, Buterin addressed reports that the Internal Revenue Service pressured Ver’s legal team to disclose privileged information. He stressed that the right to confidential legal counsel is non-negotiable and warned that such tactics threaten the integrity of the justice system. Rather than pursuing lifelong imprisonment, Buterin proposed a simpler solution—allowing individuals to resolve genuine tax mistakes by settling what they owe. This approach, he argued, would prioritize fairness over punishment and avoid turning tax disputes into personal vendettas. In Ver’s motion to dismiss, it highlights serious flaws in the indictment, including unconstitutional overreach, misuse of attorney-client privilege, and the application of vague and outdated tax laws to digital assets.

The discussion ignited by Buterin’s remarks resonates beyond Ver’s case, touching on larger questions of proportionality in sentencing. His objective stance has fueled conversations within the cryptocurrency community and beyond, prompting calls for a closer look at policies that seem to disproportionately target certain individuals.