Roger Ver, the early Bitcoin evangelist famously dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), effectively settling tax evasion charges. The deal requires Ver to pay approximately $49.9 million in back taxes, penalties, and interest for failing to properly disclose his Bitcoin holdings when he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014.
Ver, who became a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, was legally obligated to declare and pay taxes on capital gains from all global assets, including Bitcoin. According to the DOJ, Ver intentionally omitted a substantial portion of his Bitcoin holdings, causing over $16 million in tax losses to the U.S. government.
The agreement acknowledges that Ver’s failure to report the full extent of his crypto wealth was willful, marking it as a deliberate breach of tax law. Alongside the back payments, Ver accepted the maximum civil fraud penalty and accrued interest.
Justice Department officials emphasized that the resolution underscores their ongoing efforts to enforce tax compliance in the digital asset sector.
“This sends a clear message: no matter the currency — dollars or digital — tax laws apply to everyone,” said Associate Deputy Attorney General Ketan D. Bhirud.
The DOJ highlighted that the case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit, demonstrating the agency’s continued focus on cryptocurrency-related offenses.
Ver’s legal troubles have long cast a shadow over his reputation, but this agreement could signal closure on one of the most publicized tax disputes involving a crypto pioneer.
