Bitcoin Pioneer 'Bitcoin Jesus' Arrested in Spain Over $50M Tax Evasion
Bitcoin pioneer Roger Ver, also known as 'Bitcoin Jesus', has been arrested in Spain. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) accuses him of tax evasion, alleging he failed to pay around $50 million in taxes on his Bitcoin holdings.
Ver, a major Bitcoin investor, renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014. However, the IRS claims he did not accurately disclose his Bitcoin assets at that time. In 2017, Ver sold tens of thousands of Bitcoins, worth approximately $240 million, after transferring them from his companies. The IRS used blockchain analysis to trace these transactions and determine the true extent of Ver's holdings.
The IRS believes these Bitcoins were part of the assets Ver should have taxed in 2014. They allege Ver made false statements during his citizenship renunciation process, failing to declare these assets. Ver's recent book, 'Hijacking Bitcoin', is not believed to be related to his arrest.
Ver's case, while unusual, is not uncommon in the U.S., according to IRS records. His arrest highlights the IRS's increasing use of blockchain analysis to track cryptocurrency transactions and enforce tax laws. Ver's legal team, whose identity remains unknown, will likely address these allegations in the coming days.
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