Following the recent pardon of the founder of Silk Road, Roger Ver, famously dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus,” has made a public appeal to Donald Trump, urging the US president to intervene in his extradition case.
In an X post on 26 January, Ver pleaded,
“Mr. President, I am an American, and I need your help. Only you, with your commitment to justice, can save me @realDonaldTrump.”
The 46-year-old entrepreneur, who renounced his US citizenship in 2014, faces federal charges that could result in a prison sentence exceeding 100 years if convicted.
Ver is accused of evading taxes on cryptocurrency transactions worth millions and is currently fighting extradition to the United States.
Born on 27 January 1979 in San Jose, California, Ver began his entrepreneurial career at the age of 19.
In 1999, he founded MemoryDealers.com, which specialised in selling computer components.
The company flourished under his leadership, carving out a dominant position in the market.
In 2005, Ver launched Agilestar.com, a venture focused on optical transceivers that attracted major clients, including Fortune 100 companies.
These early successes laid the foundation for his foray into the world of cryptocurrency.
Ver discovered Bitcoin in 2011 when it was priced below $1.
He described his reaction as immediate and transformative, saying,
“It was like nothing I’d ever seen before.”
He invested heavily, both financially and personally, in the cryptocurrency, integrating it into his businesses and promoting its potential to upend traditional financial systems.
His early backing of Bitcoin startups, such as Blockchain.com, Kraken, and Ripple, totalled over $1 million.
Ver’s association with Bitcoin took a sharp turn in 2017 when he shifted his support to Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
This fork of Bitcoin promised faster transaction times and lower fees, addressing what he saw as fundamental shortcomings in Bitcoin’s design.
“Bitcoin isn’t about holding and hoping the price goes up. It’s about making financial systems better than PayPal or Visa,” Ver said, criticising Bitcoin’s community for deviating from its original purpose.
His outspoken stance created both supporters and detractors, with some viewing him as a visionary and others accusing him of undermining Bitcoin to promote his own interests.
In 2014, Ver renounced his US citizenship and acquired citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis through its citizenship-by-investment programme.
He has frequently highlighted the value of a second passport, describing it as a safeguard against government overreach.
Before that, he spent most of his adult life residing in Japan.
However, Ver’s decision to distance himself from the US has not shielded him from legal scrutiny.
The Department of Justice alleges that he sold tens of thousands of bitcoins for $240 million in cash during 2017 but failed to report these transactions, resulting in $48 million in unpaid taxes.
Arrested in Spain last April, Ver now faces the prospect of extradition to the US to stand trial.
Trump’s potential involvement in Ver’s case comes as no surprise, given his history of pardoning controversial figures in the cryptocurrency world.
In a striking example, Trump recently pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, who had been serving two life sentences for charges including conspiracy to distribute narcotics and money laundering.
Earlier on 22 January, Elon Musk, a prominent ally of Trump, hinted at the possibility of Ver receiving similar treatment when questioned about the matter.
On X (formerly Twitter), Musk revealed,
“That’s up to the President, but I have asked whether this is possible”
However, his words twisted.
On 26 January, he responded to a similar query, stating,
“Roger Ver gave up his US citizenship. No pardon for Ver. Membership has its privileges.”
While President Trump has not yet commented on Ver’s plea, Musk's response indicates a possible change in the administration's position.
Last week, the new president has already enacted crypto-friendly policies during his administration, including signing an executive order on cryptocurrency.
Speculation is mounting that the self-proclaimed “Bitcoin Jesus” could return to the US within the coming weeks.
Trump’s recent actions reflect his strategy of rallying his conservative base by pardoning allies while targeting opponents.
On his first day back in office, he pardoned more than 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot of 2021, including those convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers.
Meanwhile, Musk’s growing influence in Washington aligns with Trump’s policies.
Musk has been appointed to lead an advisory commission, informally called “DOGE” (Department of Government Efficiency), tasked with reducing federal bureaucracy and spending.
Ver’s case, fraught with political, financial, and legal implications, now stands as a test of Trump’s stance on high-profile cryptocurrency figures.
Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, was granted a full pardon by President Trump after 11 years in prison. He expressed gratitude for his release and is now focused on reuniting with his family and rebuilding his life.
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