- After Sam Bankman-Fried and Changpeng Zhao, Roger Ver is under the radar of the US government.
- Various reactions within the crypto community highlight the complexity of the sector amid legal action.
The year 2024 is proving to be a golden age for cryptocurrencies, with the exponential growth of this asset class coinciding with a wave of crypto voters.
Notably, a significant portion of this increase in crypto adoption occurred following the 2020 presidential election. Following Biden’s election, there was an unprecedented wave of retail adoption within the cryptocurrency industry.
However, as the 2024 US elections approach, an unexpected development is occurring.
The US Department of Justice has announced charges against Roger Ver, also known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’, on tax evasion charges.
Divergent perspectives
Several executives have weighed in on the issue, speculating that it is an anti-crypto stance within the Biden administration.
Highlighting successive arrests by the US government, including Sam Bankman-Fried, Changpeng Zhao and now Roger Ver, David sharesnoted one crypto expert:
“The US is aggressively pursuing crypto. Just look at the recent goals. If you think you’re not a target, think again. They will come after all of us at some point. We must fight!”
Echoing similar sentiments, Jane Adams, a candidate for the US House of Representatives in 2024 and a supporter of Bitcoin, said:
Source: Jane Adams/Twitter
However, some executives believed in the steps the US had taken. He expressed concern about Ver, Bitcoin educator, Then Hero said,
“Good. It has been net negative for Bitcoin.”
Adding to the fray, an X user, @koinosthegoat, claimed:
Source: @koinosthegoat/Twitter
These contrasting perspectives underscore the complexity and divisions within the crypto space, suggesting potential implications for the upcoming US elections.
What else is going on?
In fact, Ver was arrested in Spain on April 30, following criminal charges in the US for crimes including mail fraud, tax evasion and filing false tax returns.
The DoJ claims that Ver avoided taxes totaling $48 million on his Bitcoin and cryptocurrency sales in 2017. According to a press release by the DoJ,
Source: US Department of Justice
However, despite renouncing his US citizenship in 2014, Ver is facing extradition to the United States, prompting criticism from crypto veterans and social media users.
Amid this criticism, Kim Dotcomnoted a crypto veteran who was in the same shoes a few years ago:
“These charges have nothing to do with tax evasion. This is a malicious attempt to defame Roger and punish him for exposing and combating the crimes of the American empire.”
As things unfold, it will be interesting to see how the upcoming US elections will shape the future of cryptocurrency in the United States.