Vitalik Buterin Supports Roger Ver Amid Legal Battle

According to Cointelegraph, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expressed support for early crypto investor and entrepreneur Roger Ver, who is embroiled in a legal dispute with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) over alleged tax evasion. Ver is facing potential extradition to the US. Buterin echoed Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht's call for the charges against Ver to be dropped, describing the case as "absurd" and "politically motivated." He criticized the US tax-by-citizenship and exit tax policies, noting that they are more stringent than those of most other countries. Buterin also condemned any alleged intimidation tactics by the IRS to obtain privileged information from Ver's legal team. Ver's legal troubles have sparked broader discussions about tax reform in the United States, with some lawmakers and citizens advocating for the abolition of the income tax and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The DOJ announced tax evasion charges against Ver on April 30, 2024, leading to his arrest in Spain, where he was detained for several weeks. Ver was released on bail after posting $163,000, under the condition that he remain in Spain, surrender his passport, and report to court officials regularly. In a legal filing dated December 3, 2024, Ver's attorneys argued that the charges were unconstitutional and sought their dismissal. They criticized the exit tax law for US citizens with substantial investable assets, claiming it was vague and violated constitutional clauses. The case has drawn criticism from crypto investors, who accuse the DOJ of targeting Ver as part of the Biden administration's perceived anti-crypto agenda. Ver himself asserts that the prosecution is a result of his crypto advocacy rather than any tax-related offenses.