- Ross Ulbricht urges support for Roger Ver, citing his past advocacy.
- Ver was arrested in Spain and faces extradition to the U.S. on tax fraud charges.
Ross Ulbricht, the recently pardoned founder of Silk Road, is now advocating for clemency for Roger Ver, also known as “Bitcoin Jesus.” Ver was arrested in Spain in April 2024 on U.S. charges of tax evasion, fraud, and filing false tax returns. He faces a potential 109-year prison sentence if convicted.
In a statement on X on February 20, Ulbricht called for Ver’s release. He expressed gratitude for Ver’s support during his imprisonment and urged the crypto community to rally behind him. “Roger Ver was there for me when I was down and needed help. Now Roger needs our support,” Ulbricht wrote.
Roger Ver’s Clemency Fight
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Ver failed to report capital gains from Bitcoin sales and undervalued two companies when renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2014. Prosecutors claim he concealed the sale of 131,000 Bitcoin worth $240 million in 2017, leading to a $48 million tax shortfall. Ver denies the charges, arguing that Bitcoin lacked liquidity at the time, making it difficult to file an accurate exit tax.
Ver attempted to dismiss the case in December 2023, calling U.S. exit tax laws unconstitutional. His lawyers claim the prosecution is politically motivated due to his libertarian and crypto advocacy. In a video on January 26, Ver directly appealed to former President Donald Trump, saying, “Only Trump’s commitment to justice can save me.”
Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by pardoning Ulbricht, who served 12 years of a 40-year plus double life sentence for founding the Silk Road. He initially vowed to release Ulbricht on his first day in office but granted clemency on January 21, 2025.
Supporters have launched a “Free Roger” campaign, mirroring Ulbricht’s past efforts for clemency. Polymarket currently gives Ver a 10% chance of receiving a pardon from Trump. Edward Snowden and Julian Assange have slightly higher odds, while former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is at 2%.
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