Roger Ver, an early Bitcoin investor and Bitcoin Cash promoter known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reached a tentative $48 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve criminal tax evasion charges filed in 2024.
The agreement, first reported by the New York Times and still awaiting court approval, would result in charges being dropped if Barr meets all payment and compliance requirements. The case highlights a notable shift in federal cryptocurrency enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second administration, with less pressure on industry figures who had long been under scrutiny under President Joe Biden.
Ver, 46, was charged in 2014 with tax evasion charges related to holding digital assets while renouncing his US citizenship. Prosecutors claimed he concealed the value of his Bitcoin portfolio before being deported. Mr. Va, who was arrested in Spain last year, was facing extradition proceedings until negotiations began in early 2025.
The NYT reported that Barr also paid political strategist Roger Stone $600,000 to hire a lawyer with ties to Trump’s legal defense network to reduce exposure of Trump.
The case follows a series of reversals in U.S. cryptocurrency enforcement. Since January 2025, the SEC has dropped lawsuits against Coinbase and other major exchanges, while President Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht and the founders of BitMEX.
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