Vitalik Buterin Calls for Roger Ver’s Release, Criticizes Harsh Sentence Over Tax Offenses

Roger Ver, dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus,” is making headlines as many push for his pardon. In a recent turn of events, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has stepped in, calling on the government to free Ver.

Is It “Politically Motivated”?

Buterin in a recent X post has expressed his concerns about the possible sentence for Roger Ver, who is facing allegations of nonviolent tax offenses. He argued that the case seemed to be politically motivated and that the potential punishment was overly harsh for the nature of the charges.

Buterin’s comments came after Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, publicly defended Ver and criticized the harsh penalties for his alleged tax offenses. Ross Ulbricht previously shared a post on social media saying that Roger Ver deserves support and that “no one should spend their life in prison over taxes.”

Ulbricht’s post on social media called out the unfair treatment of Ver. Notably, their support for each other has drawn attention from legal experts, tech observers, and people in the crypto and libertarian communities.

Buterin said it’s absurd for someone to spend their life in prison over nonviolent tax offenses. He pointed out that many individuals and companies accused of more serious crimes received lighter sentences. Buterin argued that Ver’s support for freedom and criticism of government power shouldn’t lead to harsh punishment, expressing concern about fairness in legal cases involving taxes.

Buterin criticized selective prosecution, saying it undermines constitutional rights, like the First Amendment. He pointed to the U.S. tax-by-citizenship and exit tax policies as extreme, noting that few other countries have similar rules. He compared these to other nations’ tax systems, like the UK, which only charges capital gains if you return within five years.

In April 2024, the U.S. IRS accused Ver of evading $48 million in taxes. He was arrested in Spain and is currently there, facing potential extradition to the U.S., where he could be sentenced to up to 109 years.

Buterin also raised concerns about reports that the IRS pressured Ver’s lawyers to reveal confidential information. He emphasized the importance of protecting the right to legal privacy. Buterin suggested that people should be able to fix tax mistakes without facing life sentences.

“Genuine good faith mistakes should be treated by giving the actor the opportunity to pay back taxes if needed with interest and penalties, not with prosecution,” he shared. 

Musk Refuses to Support Roger Ver

However, in contrast, Elon Musk, the Chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has declined to support Ver. Musk argued that because Ver gave up his U.S. citizenship, he is no longer eligible for a presidential pardon, along with other rights and protections that come with being a U.S. citizen.

These comments spark a wider debate about fairness in sentencing within both the crypto world and the legal system, with many now calling for more balanced legal policies.