Freshly Freed Ulbricht Calls for Bitcoin Jesus’ Pardon Next

Recently pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht is now calling for clemency for Roger Ver, known as "Bitcoin Jesus," who faces potential decades-long imprisonment for alleged tax evasion.

In a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Ulbricht expressed his gratitude for Ver’s past advocacy during his own incarceration and now seeks to return the favour.

Ver was arrested in Spain last April on US criminal charges, including tax evasion, filing false tax returns, and fraud.

Prosecutors claim he falsely reported his financials when renouncing his US citizenship for Japanese nationality in 2014, evading an estimated $48 million in taxes.

Authorities allege Ver concealed 131,000 Bitcoin—worth nearly $240 million at the time of sale in 2017—and underreported the value of two companies, violating IRS exit tax rules, which require all outstanding taxes to be settled before renunciation.

Ver has denied the charges, arguing that market conditions at the time hindered proper tax filings.

Last December, he sought to dismiss the case, challenging the constitutionality and clarity of US exit tax laws.

Ver Had Implored Trump to Pardon Him

In a video posted to X on 26 January, Ver directly appealed to President Trump for help, stating that only Trump’s “commitment to justice can save me.”

This plea follows Trump’s recent pardon of Ulbricht, the Silk Road founder who had spent 12 years in prison and was originally sentenced to 40 years plus two life terms.

Ulbricht’s release fulfilled one of Trump’s key campaign promises to the crypto community.

Although he had pledged to pardon Ulbricht on his first day in office if re-elected, Trump took an extra day after his inauguration to act.

With extradition to the US looming and a possible 109-year sentence at stake, the question remains: will President Trump heed Ulbricht’s plea, or will Ver’s fate be sealed?