According to a report by The New York Times, Roger Ver, recognized for his early advocacy of bitcoin, has negotiated a tentative resolution to the criminal tax fraud charges pending against him. This agreement, subject to court approval, stipulates that Ver will be required to pay approximately $48 million in back taxes. In exchange, prosecutors would agree to dismiss the charges provided he complies with the terms of a deferred-prosecution agreement.

The indictment issued against Ver in 2024 accused him of tax evasion related to his substantial bitcoin holdings prior to renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014. Ver was apprehended in Spain last year as authorities sought his extradition.

If the proposed settlement is finalized, it would represent a significant development for one of the cryptocurrency industry’s most contentious figures and may indicate a shift in Washington’s approach to digital assets.

Ver’s Significant Bitcoin Holdings

The indictment detailed claims that Ver provided false or misleading information to a law firm and an appraiser, concealing the actual number of bitcoins owned by him and his entities. This allegedly resulted in the submission of fraudulent tax returns that substantially undervalued both his companies and their bitcoin assets.

By 2017, reports suggested that Ver’s companies retained approximately 70,000 bitcoins, which he sold on cryptocurrency exchanges for an estimated $240 million. Despite not being a U.S. citizen at that time, he was still legally obligated to report certain distributions to the IRS and remit taxes accordingly. The indictment asserts that he neglected this responsibility, causing an estimated $48 million in losses to the IRS.

This potential settlement arises as the Trump administration continues to reverse a lengthy federal crackdown on cryptocurrency activities.

Ver’s defense strategy has capitalized on the favorable political climate towards bitcoin fostered by Trump. Reports indicate that he paid a long-time Trump ally, Roger Stone, $600,000 and enlisted legal counsel connected to the former president, including attorneys David Schoen and Christopher Kise, as well as the lobbying firm of GOP fundraiser Brian Ballard, as reported by The New York Times.

In January, Ver issued a public appeal, seeking assistance from Trump and alleging that the legal action against him was politically motivated, warning of a potential sentence of up to 100 years.

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