Ross Ulbricht Speaks Out: “Roger Ver Deserves Freedom”
Ross Ulbricht, freed in January 2025, is now speaking out for Roger Ver, a Bitcoin investor who could spend the rest of his life in prison for tax evasion.
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Ulbricht, once sentenced to life in prison for creating and operating the Silk Road darknet marketplace, spent more than 11 years behind bars before receiving a full pardon from Donald Trump. His release was seen as a victory for libertarians and members of the crypto community, who believed his punishment was unfair.
Roger Ver was among them.
For years, Ver was one of the strongest voices behind the “Free Ross” movement. He not only spoke out against Ulbricht’s sentencing but also donated to legal funds and used his influence to keep the case in the public eye.
But in a strange turn of events, a decade later, their roles have reversed.
Related: Roger Ver, “Bitcoin Jesus”, Battles Tax Evasion Charges
A Role Reversal: Ulbricht Speaks for Ver
Roger Ver, often known as “Bitcoin Jesus”, now finds himself in a legal battle of his own.
In May 2024, Ver was arrested in Barcelona, Spain, after the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) accused him of $50 million in tax evasion. His lawyers argue that the case is politically motivated, citing his long history of advocating for financial freedom outside of government control.
In a recent X post, Ulbricht came to Ver’s defense.
No one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes. Let him pay the tax (if any) and be done with it.
– he wrote.
Freedom and a New Perspective
Since his release, Ulbricht has been vocal about what freedom means to him. One of his first posts after leaving prison showed him holding a small potted pepper plant—something simple, yet symbolic.
After more than a decade behind bars, he is experiencing the world anew, rediscovering things like seeing the ocean for the first time in 11 years.
Yet, despite his newfound freedom, Ulbricht isn’t just focused on himself. He’s looking outward—to Roger Ver, the man who once fought for him.
Ver’s Plea to Trump—and Musk’s Response
Recently, Roger Ver posted a video message directed at Donald Trump, hoping for the same intervention that freed Ulbricht. In the video, Ver says he has been targeted by the government for his involvement in crypto and his “American ideals”.
However, Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, dismissed the idea of a pardon, bluntly stating that Ver is ineligible because he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, opting for citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis. The question now is whether Trump shares Musk's opinion.
Why Ross Ulbricht Takes a Stand for Roger Ver
Ross Ulbricht understands what it’s like to be on the wrong side of the justice system. His support for Roger Ver goes beyond personal solidarity; it highlights a larger concern about how governments treat those who challenge financial norms.
However, Ver’s situation differs from Ulbricht’s in many ways. This isn’t a darknet marketplace case—Ver is accused of owing money to the U.S. government, not facilitating illegal transactions. And yet, to Ulbricht, Ver’s predicament likely feels familiar.
Both cases raise important questions about freedom, compliance, and government overreach.
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