Early Bitcoin backer Roger Ver is taking Spain to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to halt his extradition to the United States, where he faces multiple tax-related charges and the possibility of a century-long prison sentence.
Ver, once dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus” for his evangelical support of the cryptocurrency’s early days, claims Spanish authorities violated his fundamental rights when they approved a U.S. extradition request. The lawsuit was filed last month, according to Bloomberg Law.
The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Ver in 2024 on charges including tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing false returns. He was arrested in Spain in April of that year and later released on bail pending extradition.
At the heart of the case is Ver’s renunciation of his U.S. citizenship in 2014—a move that, under U.S. tax law, triggers an “exit tax” on unrealized capital gains. Prosecutors allege Ver failed to declare the full value of his bitcoin holdings at the time, which would have subjected him to hefty tax liabilities. They estimate he owes the IRS $48 million.
The Justice Department further claims that in 2017, Ver concealed $240 million worth of additional crypto gains through his U.S.-registered companies, MemoryDealers and Agilestar. Despite his citizenship change, authorities argue he was still legally obligated to report dividends and distributions from those corporations.
In December, Ver moved to dismiss all eight criminal counts, calling the exit tax unconstitutional and attacking the government’s case as legally vague. While that motion remains unresolved, Ver’s lawsuit in Europe appears aimed at delaying or derailing extradition efforts.
Ver has also appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump for a pardon and enjoys vocal support from a small but loyal group of crypto advocates—some of whom likened his prosecution to a broader crackdown on early crypto entrepreneurs.
If extradited and convicted on all counts, Ver faces up to 109 years in prison.
Ver’s campaign draws parallels to Trump’s recent pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, but reactions from the crypto community remain polarized. Some sympathize with Ver’s claims, while others argue he deserves to face legal consequences.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissed the plea, pointing out Ver’s 2014 renouncement of U.S. citizenship and declaring, “No pardon for Ver.” Following Musk’s tweets, prediction market Polymarket materially lowered Ver’s odds of receiving a pardon.
In a video released in January, Ver described himself as an American at heart, despite officially holding a St. Kitts and Nevis passport since renouncing his U.S. citizenship over a decade ago. He attributed his decision to leave the U.S. to ideological concerns and fears of government persecution, citing a past federal prison term linked to selling unlicensed fireworks as evidence of bias against him.
Ver is the founder of Bitcoin.com, a crypto news and information site that provides a variety related services, including a media outlet, crypto casino and a mobile wallet.
