‘Bitcoin Jesus’ arrest raises concerns: ‘The U.S. is coming after crypto!’

• After Sam Bankman-Fried and Changpeng Zhao, Roger Ver is under the radar of the U.S. government. 
• Diverse reactions within the crypto community highlight industry complexities amid legal actions.

The year 2024 is proving to be a golden age for cryptocurrencies, with the exponential growth of this asset class coinciding with a surge in crypto voters.

Notably, a significant portion of this surge in crypto adoption occurred after the 2020 presidential election. Following Biden’s election, there was an unprecedented wave of retail adoption within the cryptocurrency industry.

However, as the U.S. elections 2024 approaches, an unexpected development has emerged.

The United States Department of Justice has announced charges against Roger Ver, also known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” on allegations of tax evasion.

Diverging perspective 

Various execs have weighed in on the matter, speculating that it is an anti-crypto stance within the Biden administration.

Highlighting consecutive arrests by the U.S. government, including Sam Bankman-Fried, Changpeng Zhao, and now Roger Ver, David Shares, a crypto expert noted, 

“The U.S. is aggressively coming after crypto. Just look at the recent targets. If you think you’re not a target, think again. They will come after all of us at some point. We have to fight!” 

Echoing similar sentiments, Jane Adams, a 2024 candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and a supporter of Bitcoin, said, 

Source: Jane Adams/Twitter

However, some execs believed in the steps taken by the U.S. Voicing his apprehensions against Ver, Bitcoin educator, Dan Held said, 

“Good. He’s been a net negative for Bitcoin.” 

Adding to the fray, an X user, @koinosthegoat, claimed, 

Source: @koinosthegoat/Twitter

These contrasting perspectives underscore the complexities and divisions within the crypto space, suggesting potential implications for the upcoming U.S. elections.

What’s more to it? 

As a matter of fact, Ver was arrested in Spain on the 30th of April, following criminal charges in the U.S. for offenses including mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns.

The DoJ alleges that Ver avoided taxes totaling $48 million on his Bitcoin and cryptocurrency sales in 2017. According to a press release by the DoJ,

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

However, despite renouncing his US citizenship in 2014, Ver faces extradition to the United States, prompting criticism from crypto veterans and social media users. 

Amidst this criticism, Kim Dotcom, a crypto veteran who himself was in the same shoes a few years ago, remarked,

“This indictment has nothing to do with tax evasion. This is a malicious attempt to vilify Roger and to punish him for exposing and opposing the crimes of the US empire.” 

As things unfold, it will be interesting to watch how the upcoming U.S. elections will shape the future of cryptocurrency in the States.