Roger Ver reaches preliminary agreement with the US Department of Justice over tax charges: NYT
By Angel Di Matteo @shadowargel
According to a report from New York TimesVer would have reached an agreement to avoid imprisonment in the United States, which would be finalized for a payment equivalent to about USD $48 million.
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- Roger Ver would pay close to USD $48 million to resolve the case against him.
- The charges could be dropped if he meets the conditions of the agreement.
- The change reflects a friendlier turn by the Trump administration toward cryptocurrencies.
The pioneer of Bitcoin and renowned businessman, Roger Ver, would have reached a preliminary agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve the criminal charges he faces for tax evasion, according to reports The New York Times.
See, nicknamed “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early role as a speaker and adoption advocate Bitcoin, He was arrested in April 2024 and charged with tax fraud, tax evasion and filing false tax returns. The authorities assured at the time that the businessman hid his ownership of large amounts of Bitcoin to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)which would have caused an estimated loss of USD $48 million to the US government.
An agreement that could close a key legal chapter
According to the report, Ver would be willing to pay a figure close to that USD $48 million to the government as part of a tentative agreement. Sources close to the case indicated that the charges could be dropped if the investor accepts all the conditions imposed by the authorities.
He Department of Justice did not immediately respond to interview requests made by various media outlets, while Ver limited himself to responding “no comments.”
This development comes amid a changing political environment in Washington DC, where President Donald Trump’s administration has shown a more favorable attitude towards the crypto industry since returning to power.
A political turn towards the crypto sector
Over the last year, the Trump administration has taken various measures to relax pressure on companies in the digital asset ecosystem. These include the decision to abandon investigations against high-profile firms such as Coinbase and Binance, as well as the appointment of figures with pro-crypto positions at the head of key federal agencies, such as the case of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Analysts consider that this strategy seeks to reinforce the position of the United States as a leader in technological and financial innovation, in addition to gaining political support among voters in the digital sector.
In a symbolic gesture of this new orientation, Trump also granted a presidential pardon to the founder of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, just days after taking office again.
Ulbricht, currently free following his pardon, expressed his support for Ver earlier this year. In a post on X, he wrote: “Roger Ver was there for me when I needed him most. Now he needs our support. No one should spend the rest of their life in prison for taxes.”
His statement revived the public debate about the proportionality of penalties related to tax crimes and the treatment that US authorities have given to figures in the crypto ecosystem.
On the other hand, reports also indicate that Ver and his team have been trying to request a pardon from President Trump, although these plans never came to fruition.
Polymarket reflects public expectations
In parallel, the prediction markets also reacted to the news. Bettors on the decentralized platform Polymarket They raised the odds of Trump granting a pardon to Ver from 23% to 29% during Thursday afternoon.
The increase reflects a more optimistic perception about the outcome of the case, which could close one of the most controversial chapters in the relationship between the US tax authorities and the pioneering figures of the crypto sector.
If the agreement is confirmed, the case would mark a precedent in the evolution of the US legal framework regarding cryptocurrencies and large investors in digital assets, in a political context that is increasingly permeable to the influence of the crypto world.
Article written with the help of an AI content writer, edited by Angel Di Matteo / DailyBitcoin
Original image from DiarioBitcoin, created with artificial intelligence, free to use, licensed under Public Domain.
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