Bitcoin Jesus Busted: Early Investor Faces $48M Tax Fraud Charges

• Early Bitcoin investor “Bitcoin Jesus” arrested in Spain.
• Faces charges of tax evasion filing false tax returns.
• Allegedly owes the IRS at least $48 million for unreported income.

On April 30, 2024 the federal grand jury indicted Roger Ver, an early investor in Bitcoin and known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” on charges of mail fraud and tax evasion Ver was arrested this weekend in Spain based on these charges and the United States seeks his extradition for trial.

According to the indictment, Ver, who was a former resident of California, owned two companies selling computer equipment. He allegedly began acquiring Bitcoin for himself and his companies in 2011 while also actively promoting the cryptocurrency.

In 2014, Ver renounced his U.S. citizenship. However, under U.S. law, this required him to report capital gains and pay an “exit tax” on his assets, including Bitcoin. The indictment alleges Ver owned over 131,000 Bitcoin at the time, valued at roughly $871 each.

Prosecutors claim Ver provided false information to a law firm and appraiser, leading them to significantly undervalued his companies and not report his personal Bitcoin holdings. They further allege Ver continued to own a large amount of Bitcoin through his companies until 2017 when he sold them for approximately $240 million. Even though no longer a U.S. citizen, Ver allegedly failed to report this income and pay taxes on it.

The total alleged tax loss to the IRS is estimated to be at least $48 million. Ver is assumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Justice Department’s Tax Division and the IRS Criminal Investigation’s cybercrimes unit are handling the case.