Bitcoin Jesus Sues Spain to Stop Extradition to U.S. in Tax Dispute

Roger Ver, an entrepreneur and early bitcoin (BTC) investor, has initiated legal proceedings against the Spanish government to contest an extradition order to the United States, where he is facing charges related to tax offenses.

According to a Bloomberg report, authorities alleged that Ver willfully evaded tax obligations exceeding $48 million, linked to the disposal of digital assets with a total value of roughly $240 million.

Ver Challenges Spain’s Extradition Decision

To halt his extradition, the entrepreneur turned to the European Court of Human Rights last month. He argues that Spain’s decision to hand him over to U.S. authorities for trial in Los Angeles ignored the legal protections he is entitled to.

Known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus,’ Ver was charged by the Department of Justice back in 2024 on multiple counts, including mail fraud, tax evasion, and knowingly submitting falsified tax returns. He was apprehended in Spain in April of that year and subsequently released pending further legal proceedings.

Ver Faces $48M IRS Bill

Once celebrated for his bold backing of Bitcoin Cash, Roger Ver is now turning to Donald Trump for help. He submitted a formal petition seeking clemency. According to federal filings, Ver faces an estimated $48 million tax liability to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and potential imprisonment of up to 109 years.

In December, he submitted a motion to dismiss all eight counts listed in the indictment. He asserts that the exit tax is unconstitutional and that the prosecution is founded on impermissibly vague legal premises.

Furthermore, in 2014, Ver gave up his American citizenship and became a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis. He said he made the move because of his libertarian views and dislike of U.S. tax policies.

Over $1M Into Early Crypto Startups

Bitcoin Jesus started investing in BTC in early 2011. At the time, he injected over $1 million in new Bitcoin-related startups, including Ripple, Kraken, BitPay, and Blockchain.com.

Interestingly, Ver led Bitcoin.com as CEO until August 2019, then stepped into the executive chairman role. Interestingly, Fortune Magazine incorrectly identified him as a co-founder of Bitcoin Cash.

Meanwhile, by mid-2022, Roger Ver had a stake in CoinFLEX, a crypto exchange known for its yield offerings. Around that time, speculation began to surface that Ver was heavily in debt. Many believed that these rumors contributed to the platform’s financial troubles.