Bitcoin Jesus Appeals to Trump for Mercy

In a video posted on X, Ver claims that if he is extradited to the U.S., he could face up to 109 years in prison.

U.S. authorities accuse him of hiding $240 million from Bitcoin sales in 2017 and failing to pay $48 million in taxes.

Ver maintains that these charges are politically motivated, driven by his strong advocacy for Bitcoin.

Having renounced his U.S. citizenship years ago, Ver believes he became a target due to his pro-crypto views.

I gave up my citizenship because I knew U.S. officials would continue pursuing me,

he said, expressing that his last hope is intervention from President Trump. 

Bitcoin Jesus also mentioned the pardoning of other crypto activists, including Ross Ulbricht.

Elon Musk, a close ally of Donald Trump, initially considered advocating for Roger Ver’s clemency but quickly withdrew his support. He pointed to Ver’s renouncement of U.S. citizenship as the main reason for his decision.

Membership has its privileges,

Musk wrote on X, which sparked intense debates within the crypto community. 

Some view Ver as a hero who was instrumental in the rise of cryptocurrencies, while others criticize him for his controversial past, including accusations of misleading people about Mt. Gox and promoting Bitcoin Cash as the “real Bitcoin.”

Ver’s supporters are pushing for the U.S. Department of Justice to drop the charges against him rather than pursue his extradition. They believe the case highlights the growing tension between the crypto community and government regulators.

Meanwhile, Polymarket gives a mere 12% chance that Trump will grant Ver clemency in the first 100 days of his presidency.

For now, Ver remains in Spain, holding out hope for Trump’s intervention before it’s too late.