tl;dr
A California court inches toward dismissing Roger Ver's criminal tax indictment after a proposed deferred prosecution agreement, where he agrees to pay $49.9M in back taxes and penalties. The case highlights tensions between crypto advocates and U.S. tax authorities, with speculation about a potenti...
**Bitcoin Advocate Roger Ver Nears Dismissal of Criminal Indictment in Tax Case**
A California federal court is closer to dismissing the criminal indictment against Roger Ver, a prominent Bitcoin advocate known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” following a proposed agreement with the U.S. government. In a Tuesday filing with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, prosecutors submitted a motion to dismiss Ver’s case without prejudice, meaning the charges could be refiled if necessary.
The government’s proposal, which has not yet been approved by Judge Michael Fitzgerald, stems from a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) announced in September. Under the terms, Ver agreed to pay $49.9 million, along with all outstanding tax, penalties, and interest to the IRS for his Bitcoin holdings. The deal follows Ver’s admission that he failed to report taxable crypto assets before renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014.
The initial indictment, filed in April 2024, accused Ver of falsely reporting ownership of approximately 131,000 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at $74 million in 2014. The U.S. Justice Department alleged that Ver evaded taxes by renouncing his citizenship and later acquiring citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis. The motion to dismiss highlighted that Ver’s 2016 tax returns “did not report ownership of all these bitcoins and did not report capital gains from the constructive sale of all of these bitcoins,” resulting in a $16.86 million tax loss.
Ver’s legal team has not opposed the proposed dismissal, suggesting the case is nearing resolution. However, the matter remains pending court approval. Meanwhile, some cryptocurrency enthusiasts continue to bet on a potential presidential pardon for Ver. Prediction platforms Polymarket and Kalshi listed 17% and 19% odds, respectively, that Ver would receive a pardon, commutation, or reprieve from former President Donald Trump by December 31.
In January, Ver publicly urged Trump to intervene, framing his legal troubles as “lawfare.” The case underscores ongoing tensions between crypto advocates and U.S. tax authorities, as the IRS intensifies enforcement of cryptocurrency tax compliance.
The outcome of Ver’s case could set a precedent for similar disputes, as lawmakers and regulators continue to grapple with the tax implications of digital assets. For now, the proposed dismissal marks a significant step in a high-profile legal battle that has drawn attention from the crypto community and beyond.