Roger Ver, the cryptocurrency pioneer known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has agreed to pay up to $49.9 million to settle U.S. tax evasion and mail fraud charges, the Justice Department said in a court filing. The deal, reached under the Trump administration, allows Ver to avoid prison if he meets the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement.
Under the agreement, the IRS can collect up to $49.9 million to cover back taxes, penalties, and interest. If Ver fulfills the terms, the indictment will be dismissed within one month. His attorney, Christopher Kise, has previously represented Donald Trump, and the DOJ official overseeing the settlement, Ketan Bhirud, once represented Ivanka Trump before joining the government.
Ver was arrested in Spain in April 2024 and charged with failing to pay $48 million in taxes after renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014 to become a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis. He was accused of concealing bitcoin assets during his expatriation process.
Known for his early and outspoken advocacy of bitcoin, Ver served as CEO of Bitcoin.com and gained the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus” for promoting cryptocurrency adoption in its infancy. After publicly urging Trump earlier this year to end what he called “lawfare,” Ver thanked the administration for resolving the case, saying he was “very grateful” for its professionalism.
