“Let Him Pay and Move On” – Ulbricht Defends Roger Ver Amid 131,000 BTC Tax Scandal

Ross Ulbricht, the recently pardoned creator of Silk Road, has publicly called for clemency for Roger Ver, also known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ who faces serious tax evasion charges and the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.

Ulbricht Stands by Roger Ver: “No One Should Spend Life in Prison Over Taxes”

On Feb. 20, Ulbricht took to X to advocate for Roger Ver’s release, emphasizing the support he once received from Ver during his own legal battle.

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“Roger Ver was there for me when I was down and needed help. Now Roger needs our support,” Ulbricht stated. “No one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes. Let him pay the tax (if any) and be done with it.”

Ver’s Legal Battle and Tax Evasion Allegations

Roger Ver was arrested in Spain in April 2024 based on criminal charges in the United States. He is currently fighting extradition to the US, where he faces accusations of tax evasion, filing false tax returns, and fraud. If convicted, Ver could face a maximum sentence of 109 years in prison.

The allegations stem from Ver renouncing his US citizenship in 2014 in favor of Japanese citizenship. Prosecutors claim he filed fraudulent tax returns and failed to pay the IRS exit tax, a requirement for US citizens who relinquish their citizenship to settle outstanding tax liabilities before severing ties with the US tax system.

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The US Department of Justice alleges that Ver concealed 131,000 Bitcoin, valued at nearly $240 million at the time of their 2017 sale, and significantly underreported the value of two companies he owned. This purportedly led to a tax shortfall of approximately $48 million.

Ver, however, denies the charges, arguing that at the time, Bitcoin markets lacked sufficient liquidity, making it difficult to properly calculate and pay the exit tax. In December, he attempted to have the case dismissed, claiming that US exit tax laws are unconstitutional and overly vague.

An Appeal to President Trump: “Only You Can Save Me”

As legal proceedings intensify, Ver has made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump, seeking intervention. In a video posted to X on Jan. 26, Ver pleaded: “Mr. President, I am an American and I need your help. Only you, with your commitment to justice, can save me.”

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His plea follows Trump’s high-profile pardon of Ulbricht in January 2025. Ulbricht, who had served 12 years of a life sentence for founding the darknet marketplace Silk Road, was granted clemency as part of Trump’s outreach to the cryptocurrency community. Although Trump had pledged to pardon Ulbricht on his first day in office, the decision came a day later, on Jan. 21.

With Ulbricht now free, many within the crypto community are hopeful that Ver may be next in line for clemency.