Roger Ver, long known in crypto circles as ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ is said to have reached a tentative settlement to pay about $48 million to resolve the tax fraud case under a deferred-prosecution agreement. The New York Times first reported that if Ver meets the terms and conditions of the deal, prosecutors would drop the charges.
Ver was indicted in 2024 on charges including tax evasion, filing false tax returns, and mail fraud. The U.S. DoJ alleged that between 2014 and 2017, Ver and two of his companies, MemoryDealers and Agilestar, concealed approximately 131,000 BTC, at that time valued at $114 million. They undervalued those holdings, especially when he renounced U.S. citizenship and moved to St. Kitts & Nevis in 2014. Those Bitcoins were later sold, earning him hefty gains.
The charges claim he undervalued assets, didn’t properly report distributions, and failed to pay the required ‘exit tax’ or related obligations. He was later arrested in Spain following the indictment. While extradition proceedings have been in motion, his defense team has challenged various aspects of the case.
At this juncture, the deal remains subject to court approval and may be adjusted. Some reports also suggest that Ver had funneled $600,000 to political strategist Roger Stone and hired attorneys connected to former President Trump to lobby for policy changes or favorable handling.
The next court hearing is scheduled for December 15, 2025, per public docket records.
Other notable crypto tax cases
While the Ver case is one of the highest-profile crypto tax enforcement stories lately, there have been other crypto-tax misreporting cases that have made headlines in the past. In 2021, the founders of Bitqyck, an ICO operator, pleaded guilty to tax evasion after raising ~$24 million from investors and failing to report income properly.
Crypto luminary John McAfee was indicted in 2020 for failing to file tax returns for millions in income made from crypto promotions, consulting, and other ventures; he was arrested in Spain in that case.