Vitalik Buterin condemns Roger Ver’s life sentence for tax offenses

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has condemned the possible life sentence that Roger Ver, also known as Bitcoin Jesus, might be facing. According to Buterin, the possible sentence does not make sense for nonviolent tax offenses, mentioning that it may be politically motivated.

Vitalik Buterin’s comment was in response to a post made by Silk Road marketplace founder Ross Ulbricht, where he took to the blogging website to protest Ver’s incarceration, asking for his release. He mentioned that Roger Ver supported him when he was incarcerated and needed help, and it was his turn to support Ver.

“Roger Ver was there for me when I was down and needed help. Now Roger needs our support. No one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes. Let him pay the tax (if any) and be done with it. #FreeRoger,” he said on X.

Ross attached a photo showing Ver holding a placard that reads “FreeRoss” in 2014 side by side with himself holding a placard that reads “FreeRoger” in 2025.

Vitalik Buterin condemns Ver’s plight

In his statement, Buterin argued that potentially spending life in prison over tax evasion offenses is absurd. He highlighted that other individuals and firms in the crypto industry have committed the sentences and have seen milder judgments.

Going to prison for the rest of your life over non-violent tax offenses is absurd. The case against Roger seems very politically motivated; like with @RealRossU, there have been plenty of people and corporations who have been accused of far worse and yet faced sentences far… https://t.co/7G3zDkn2F2

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) March 1, 2025

“Going to prison for the rest of your life over non-violent tax offenses is absurd. The case against Roger seems very politically motivated; like with @RealRossU, there have been plenty of people and corporations who have been accused of far worse and yet faced sentences far milder than what Roger is facing,” Buterin said.

The Ethereum co-founder added that Ver should not have to suffer a worse fate because of his advocacy for freedom and his challenge of coercive state power. He also criticized selective criticism, noting that actions like that betray the constitutional powers.

He also discussed the United States tax policy, highlighting that the US tax-by-citizenship and associated exit tax regime is extreme. “The US tax-by-citizenship and associated exit tax regime are extreme; the former is shared by almost no other countries in the world, and the latter is on the high end of what countries do (eg. the UK only charges capital gains if you return within 5 years),” he added.

Buterin also waded into reports about the IRS intimidating Ver’s lawyers to get privileged information, calling it a bad move. “If the IRS did intimidate Roger’s lawyers to get privileged information, that is a bad faith move; the right to consult lawyers in confidence must be kept sacrosanct. Genuine good faith mistakes should be treated by allowing the actor to pay back taxes if needed with interest and penalties, not with prosecution,” he said

Roger Ver’s tax evasion story

Roger Ver was charged by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) with tax fraud in April 2024, with the authorities noting that during his early Bitcoin investment days, he filed false tax returns, evaded taxes, and committed mail fraud. He was arrested in Spain, with the United States processing his extradition to stand trial in connection with his criminal case.

His indictment showed that he owned two companies where he sold computer and networking equipment. In 2011, he started to acquire Bitcoin for himself and his companies, promoting the asset on some occasions, hence where he earned the “Bitcoin Jesus” moniker. He renounced his citizenship in 2014, after obtaining a St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship. Due to the expatriation, he was required to file tax returns from sales of his assets, including the Bitcoin. He was also required to pay exit tax on the capital gains.

During the process, authorities discovered that he allegedly provided misleading or false information to the law firm he hired to carry out the appraisal. As a result, the law firm filed false tax returns, including undervaluing the companies and the 73,000 Bitcoins in its possession. The report also mentioned that Ver did not hold any personal Bitcoin. In total, Ver owed at least $48 million in taxes to the IRS.

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