Roger Ver is challenging tax evasion charges linked to $240 million in crypto sales, arguing the IRS exit tax is unconstitutional.
By Anisha Pandey
Edited by Julia Sakovich
Updated
3 mins read
Roger Ver, widely popular as “Bitcoin Jesus” in the crypto community, is fighting to have his tax evasion indictment dismissed. In a federal court filing in Los Angeles, his lawyers claimed that the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) exit tax — applied to wealthy individuals renouncing their US citizenship — is unconstitutional and unfairly burdensome.
Ver, who expatriated in 2014, is accused of evading $48 million in taxes tied to the sale of $240 million worth of crypto assets. The IRS alleges Ver concealed the true value of his Bitcoin holdings and misrepresented the worth of his companies during the exit process. However, his defense team insists that he acted in good faith, relying on legal counsel and appraisers to meet his tax obligations under unclear regulatory guidelines.
Ver’s lawyers claim prosecutors disregarded evidence of Ver’s intent to comply with tax laws, including an email where Ver expressed a desire to avoid future conflicts with the IRS.
The prosecution’s case further accuses Ver of withholding information about crypto sales through his companies, MemoryDealers and Agilestar, in 2017. These transactions reportedly generated $240 million, which prosecutors claim Ver failed to report accurately.
Ver’s legal team also alleges misconduct by IRS agents, including a breach of attorney-client privilege during an unannounced interview with one of his tax attorneys. This accusation echoes a 2022 Supreme Court case, believed to involve Ver, which was ultimately dismissed without a ruling in 2023.
Currently residing in Mallorca, Spain, Ver awaits a court decision on whether he will be extradited to the U.S. to face what could become a landmark crypto-related tax case.
Ver’s crypto journey began in 2011 when he started buying Bitcoin for less than a dollar and became one of its earliest and most vocal proponents. His investments include stakes in Blockchain.com, BitPay, and Ripple. After breaking with the Bitcoin community in 2017, Ver championed Bitcoin Cash, promoting its potential as a more scalable payment solution.
In 2022, Roger Ver reappeared on X (formerly Twitter) and backed Dogecoin DOGE $0.40 24h volatility: 2.6% Market cap: $58.48 B Vol. 24h: $6.40 B . At the time, he stated that the top meme token was a better payment option than BTC due to its swift transaction times and low fees.
Beyond his current tax battle, Ver’s financial history includes allegations of unpaid debts. In 2022, Genesis sued him for $20.8 million tied to crypto options, while CoinFLEX claimed he defaulted on a $47 million agreement, a sum that reportedly ballooned to $84 million. CoinFLEX’s financial troubles led to its restructuring, with Ver denying the claims without offering substantive rebuttals.
While his reputation as a crypto pioneer remains intact, Ver’s legal troubles and allegations of financial mismanagement have complicated his legacy.
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With a background in finance and a passion for innovation, Anisha has been covering the ever-evolving world of crypto for over four years. Her deep understanding of the crypto market have made her a trusted source for analysis and news. Whether it's dissecting the latest trends or decoding whitepapers, Anisha is dedicated to bringing clarity to the world of digital assets.
