Roger Ver, the founder of Bitcoin.com, has agreed to pay $50 million to the US Department of Justice to settle a lawsuit over tax violations, according to Bloomberg.
Under the terms of the deferred prosecution agreement, “Bitcoin Jesus” acknowledged failing to pay taxes on $240 million worth of cryptocurrency sales in 2016. Regulators stated that charges against Ver will be dropped once he fulfills his financial obligations.
Previously, the entrepreneur accused US authorities of political persecution due to his statements and role in promoting Bitcoin. In December 2024, he filed a motion to dismiss all eight charges, calling the prosecutors’ arguments “vague.” In July 2025, “Bitcoin Jesus” also appealed to the ECHR against extradition to the US.
Casa co-founder Jameson Lopp speculated that Ver was either refusing a pretrial settlement on principle or due to a lack of funds.
“We are pleased that Mr. Ver has taken responsibility for his past misconduct and fulfilled his obligations to American society. This resolution sends a clear message: whether dollars or digital assets, you must file accurate tax returns and pay what you owe,” said Deputy Attorney General Ketan D. Bhirud.
On October 10, media reported that the Bitcoin.com creator had reached a “preliminary agreement” with the Justice Department, mentioning a $48 million payment.
Ver was arrested in Spain in 2024 at the request of the US. He was accused of concealing assets in Bitcoin, filing false returns, and embezzling 70,000 BTC from his companies’ corporate accounts. In his home country, the entrepreneur faced up to 109 years in prison.
In January this year, Ver appealed to Donald Trump for a pardon. Once a close associate of the US president, Elon Musk ruled out such a possibility, as “Bitcoin Jesus” had previously renounced his American citizenship.
Earlier, the founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison, claimed Biden’s revenge for donations to Republicans.