Stacy Pereira
- Roger Ver files a human rights complaint against the Spanish government in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
- Ver claims Spain violated his fundamental rights by approving the extradition request from U.S. authorities.
- U.S. authorities have accused Ver of evading taxes on over $240 million in crypto gains from 2017.
Early Bitcoin investor, famously dubbed as “Bitcoin Jesus” Roger Ver, has launched a legal challenge against the Spanish government in a bid to prevent his extradition to the United States. The case, filed at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), argues that Spain violated Ver’s fundamental rights by approving the extradition request from U.S. authorities.
Ver, who holds citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis, was arrested in Spain in January 2024 while traveling from the U.S. Virgin Islands. He faces serious tax evasion charges in the U.S., where prosecutors allege he failed to report over $240 million in capital gains tied to crypto transactions in 2017. Ver had renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, but the government claims he still owed taxes for gains made before formally severing ties.
Ver allegedly owed approximately $48 million to the IRS and could face up to 109 years in prison if convicted. In December, he sought to have eight of the charges against him dropped. He claims that the exit tax is unconstitutional and that the prosecution’s case rests on overly vague and legally unclear grounds.
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Case to set legal precedents
According to legal filings, Ver contends that the Spanish authorities violated due process by rushing through the extradition approval and ignoring key protections under international law. His legal team has argued that the extradition would expose him to unfair treatment and potentially excessive punishment in the U.S., violating Articles 6 and 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Ver’s defense also emphasizes that he has not lived in the U.S. for years and should not be subject to retroactive tax enforcement based on unclear residency criteria. The ECHR has not yet issued a ruling, but the case could set a significant precedent for crypto-related extradition battles within Europe.
As one of Bitcoin’s earliest and most vocal evangelists, Ver’s legal fight is being closely watched by the crypto community. The outcome will be viewed as a litmus test for how international governments will handle cross-border taxation and prosecution in the digital asset era.
