Roger Ver, also known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reportedly been arrested in Spain for allegedly causing a loss of nearly $50 million to the IRS. While it is believed that Ver under-reported his assets during his expatriation, some in the crypto community suspect that there may be deeper reasons for his arrest.
According to a recent report by Crypto News Flash, Ver has been charged with mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing a false tax return. This has sparked a strong reaction from the crypto community, with many speculating that Ver’s arrest is a result of his controversial opinions and advocacy for Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
Further details have emerged from the US Justice Department, revealing Ver’s alleged intentional efforts to evade nearly $50 million in taxes. Reports indicate that Ver has a deep background in the crypto industry, having created the famous honey badger meme and invested in various crypto startups. However, his involvement in Bitcoin became less active after facing backlash from the community for his support of BCH in 2017.
Looking into Ver’s early days, he founded two companies, MemoryDealers.com and Agilestar.com, which sold computer parts in California. He was known for being a staunch anarcho-capitalist and even served a short prison sentence for selling illegal fireworks. Ver argued that his arrest was politically motivated, as the trade of fireworks was legal in agriculture.
After his release, Ver reportedly moved to Japan in 2005 before eventually settling in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2014. Reports suggest that Ver began accumulating Bitcoin in 2011 and even distributed some to his companies. In 2014, he owned 131,000 Bitcoins, with 73,000 registered in his companies’ names. He sold most of his Bitcoins in 2017 for $240 million when the price was at $871.
While living comfortably in St. Kitts, Ver decided to renounce his US citizenship. He hired a lawyer to calculate his exit tax and an appraiser to evaluate his company’s value. However, the recently unsealed indictment alleges that Ver provided false information to hide the true number of Bitcoins owned by himself and his companies. It is claimed that he falsely claimed to have gifted 25,000 Bitcoins to his partner in 2011.
Some reports suggest that the IRS investigation involved blockchain analysis to determine the true number of Bitcoins owned by Ver and his companies. This has led many crypto enthusiasts, including Ripple Labs’ CTO David Schwartz, to believe that the US authorities have a bias against Ver and his beliefs. Others speculate that his arrest may have been triggered by his recently published book, titled “Hijacking Bitcoin.”
In conclusion, Roger Ver, also known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has been arrested in Spain on charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing a false tax return. While it is believed that he under-reported his assets, some suspect that his arrest may be politically motivated or a result of his controversial opinions and advocacy for Bitcoin Cash. Further details from the US Justice Department reveal his alleged efforts to evade nearly $50 million in taxes.