Roger Ver Legal Battle Continues as IRS Pushes for Extradition Over Tax Dispute

Roger Ver, a prominent figure in the Bitcoin and crypto space often referred to as "Bitcoin Jesus," continues to face a contentious legal struggle with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The dispute centers on taxes he paid in 2014 when he renounced his U.S. citizenship, a move that has now landed him in the crosshairs of U.S. authorities.

Ver, who believed he had settled his tax obligations at the time, finds himself accused by the IRS of underpaying what he owed over a decade ago. Rather than offering a resolution through a specific payment demand, the IRS agency has taken a more aggressive approach, securing his arrest in Spain in April of 2024, nearly a year ago, while he attended a cryptocurrency conference in Barcelona. Now confined to Spain under local court orders at the request of the United States, Ver is fighting to avoid extradition and regain his freedom in a case that many view as politically motivated.

The saga began when Ver, an early Bitcoin advocate and investor, expatriated to Saint Kitts and Nevis, a decision tied to his vocal criticism of U.S. financial policies and his push for decentralized finance. At the time, he worked with legal and tax professionals to calculate and pay an exit tax based on the value of his assets, including his substantial Bitcoin holdings. The IRS, however, contends that the amount reported was insufficient, alleging he evaded nearly $50 million in taxes. Instead of negotiating a settlement, U.S. prosecutors issued an eight-count indictment, leading to his detention abroad. Ver’s legal team, backed by firms like Steptoe LLP and Kimura London & White, has filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that the case hinges on unclear tax regulations from a decade ago and raises questions about due process, including the government’s use of attorney-client communications.

Growing Support and Broader Context

The situation has drawn significant attention within the cryptocurrency community and beyond, with figures like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht publicly supporting Ver.

Buterin has called the potential life sentence for nonviolent tax offenses disproportionate and politically driven, while Ulbricht, recently pardoned himself, has highlighted Ver’s past advocacy for his own release as a reason to stand by him now. This backing is echoed by a grassroots campaign at FreeRogerNow.org, where over 50,000+ people have signed a petition urging a preemptive pardon from President Donald Trump. The case has also fueled discussions about government overreach, especially as Ver’s outspoken libertarian views and promotion of Bitcoin as a tool for financial autonomy may have made him a target.

Spain rejected Ver’s final appeal against extradition in February 2025, intensifying calls for U.S. intervention. A critical hearing on his motion to dismiss is scheduled for May 12, 2025, at the United States District Court in the Central District of California. Ver’s legal team is challenging the indictment on multiple fronts, arguing that the exit tax violates the Constitution’s Apportionment Clause by imposing unapportioned direct taxes and targets unrealized gains, which they say do not qualify as income under the Sixteenth Amendment. They also contend that it burdens the fundamental right to expatriate, clashing with due process and international norms.

The defense points to the lack of clear IRS guidance on cryptocurrency taxation in 2014, noting that the agency’s first notice came weeks after Ver’s expatriation, leaving him without a solid legal framework to follow. Additional concerns include alleged violations of attorney-client privilege and the government’s failure to specify the exact tax amount owed, which they argue undermines the case’s foundation. Ver’s attorneys emphasize his good-faith efforts to comply, highlighting his reliance on professional advisors amidst an ill-defined regulatory landscape. They are seeking dismissal of all charges, asserting that the prosecution rests on shaky legal and factual ground.

Ver has appeared on platforms like the Tucker Carlson Show and the Alex Jones Show, discussing his ordeal as part of a broader assault on cryptocurrency advocates by the Biden administration. He insists he acted in good faith, relying on expert advice in an evolving regulatory environment.