- Roger Ver has filed a lawsuit against the Spanish government in an attempt to block extradition to the United States
- U.S. prosecutors have charged Ver with mail fraud and tax evasion linked to the sale of Bitcoin during his time as a U.S. citizen
- Ver has claimed that the extradition request is politically motivated and violates both Spanish law and international treaties
Roger Ver, one of the earliest and most controversial Bitcoin evangelists, has initiated legal proceedings in Spain to halt his extradition to the United States, where he faces serious financial crime charges. The U.S. Justice Department has accused Ver of failing to report and pay taxes on hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Bitcoin sold in 2017, before he renounced his U.S. citizenship. Spanish authorities arrested him earlier this year, but Ver is now seeking to use Spain’s courts to block the U.S. request.
Legal Battle Over Tax Charges
Ver’s lawsuit, filed in a Madrid administrative court, challenges the Spanish government’s decision to proceed with the extradition. The 45-year-old entrepreneur, once dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early and vocal support of the digital asset, claims that his rights are being violated under both Spanish and European Union law. According to his legal team, the charges are retroactive, politically charged, and stem from a period when he was winding down his American citizenship, raising complex questions about tax jurisdiction.
The indictment alleges that Ver sold roughly $240 million worth of Bitcoin in 2017 while still a U.S. citizen, yet failed to disclose the transaction or pay capital gains taxes. Prosecutors argue that Ver knowingly concealed ownership of crypto assets and misled tax authorities. The U.S. has long considered such omissions as grounds for criminal prosecution, particularly when tied to renounced citizenship and expatriation tax obligations, and Ver faces decades in prison if found guilty.
Ver Calls Charges “Politically Motivated”
In a statement released through his legal counsel, Ver called the charges “a gross abuse of prosecutorial discretion” and said they were “intended to intimidate individuals who choose to exit the U.S. tax system.” He has previously criticized U.S. regulators for stifling crypto innovation and has resided in several countries over the past decade, maintaining Antiguan citizenship, which allowed Craig Wright to sue him for libel in 2020.
Ver’s fight to remain in Spain is likely to draw out the extradition process, which was likely the purpose. While Spain has an extradition treaty with the United States, it also requires judicial review and compliance with domestic legal standards. The outcome of the lawsuit could set a precedent for how European courts handle crypto-related financial crimes with international reach.
