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Cryptocurrency investor known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ reaches Deal With Prosecutors. What to expect?

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3 months ago

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Cryptocurrency investor known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ reaches Deal With Prosecutors. What to expect?
Roger Ver, a prominent cryptocurrency investor, has reached a tentative agreement with the Justice Department to table a criminal tax fraud case that federal prosecutors brought against him last year, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. Ver, 46, known as “Bitcoin Jesus” in crypto circles for his early evangelism, was charged by federal prosecutors in 2024 with fraud and tax evasion for failing to pay $48 million in taxes that he owed on his digital currency holdings. Under the terms of the deferred-prosecution agreement, Ver would pay about that much to the government, said the people, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deal.

Under the deal, which has not been filed with the court and could still change, the charges would eventually be dropped if Ver complied with the terms of the agreement.

The case is poised to become the latest example of how the Trump administration has systematically dismantled a yearslong government crackdown on the crypto industry, a sector rife with fraud, scams and theft.

Like other beneficiaries of the rollback, Ver sought to curry favor with President Donald Trump by linking his case to the president’s grievances about the weaponization of the justice system.

This year, Ver paid $600,000 to Roger Stone, a longtime associate of Trump, to try to abolish the tax provisions at the heart of the case. And crypto investor hired David Schoen, a lawyer who represented Trump during his second impeachment trial. Lobbying filings show that Ver also hired Christopher M. Kise, a lawyer who defended Trump against various criminal and civil charges, as well as the lobbying firm run by Brian Ballard, a major Trump fundraiser.

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A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment. Reached by phone, Ver also declined to comment.”I’d LOVE to say more, but I will follow my tax lawyer’s advice like I’ve been doing for decades,” he wrote in a follow-up email. “Unfortunately, that means ‘no comment.’”The Biden administration spent years cracking down on crypto. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a series of lawsuits arguing that digital currencies should be subject to the same strict rules that govern stocks and bonds on Wall Street.

But since Trump took office for his second term, the SEC has dropped lawsuits against Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the United States, and other major firms.

And during his first week in office, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the crypto-fueled drug marketplace Silk Road, who was serving a life sentence on charges that included distributing narcotics on the internet. The president later pardoned the founders of the BitMEX exchange, who had pleaded guilty in 2022 to violating a law that protects against money laundering.

Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the crypto exchange Binance, is also seeking a pardon that would wipe away a money-laundering violation and pave the way for his company to establish itself in the U.S. market.

Ver, a former California resident who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, was arrested last year in Spain, according to the Justice Department, which announced plans at the time to extradite him. Prosecutors accused him of concealing the value of his bitcoin holdings while he prepared filings connected to the requirement that Americans settle any tax obligations before renouncing citizenship.

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In January, Ver claimed in a video posted on social media that he was being threatened with a possible sentence of more than 100 years because of his political views and his role in promoting crypto.

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Crypto

SEC Says Cryptocurrency Scam Took $14 Million From Retail Investors | PYMNTS.com

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6 hours ago

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December 24, 2025

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SEC Says Cryptocurrency Scam Took Million From Retail Investors | PYMNTS.com

An investment scam allegedly took $14 million from retail investors by connecting with them on social media and convincing them to fund accounts on fake crypto asset trading platforms.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) outlined the scam in a Monday (Dec. 22) press release announcing that it filed charges against three purported crypto asset trading platforms and four so-called investment clubs.

The regulator filed the charges against the platforms Morocoin Tech, Berge Blockchain Technology, and Cirkor, and the clubs AI Wealth, Lane Wealth, AI Investment Education Foundation, and Zenith Asset Tech Foundation, according to the release.

The SEC’s complaint alleges that the clubs operated on WhatsApp, used social media ads to solicit investors to join the clubs, gained investors’ confidence in group chats, and lured them to open and fund accounts on the platforms.

It alleges that the clubs and platforms then offered “Security Token Offerings” that in fact did not exist and misappropriated at least $14 million from U.S.-based investors.

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The regulator’s complaint charges the defendants with violating anti-fraud laws, seeks permanent injunctions and civil penalties against all the defendants, and seeks disgorgement with prejudgment interest against the three platforms.

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“This matter highlights an all-too-common form of investment scam that is being used to target U.S. retail investors with devastating consequences,” Laura D’Allaird, chief of the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit at the SEC, said in the release.

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance issued an investor alert about this form of fraud on Tuesday.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) said in April that cryptocurrency fraud led to at least $9.3 billion in losses reported in 2024, a 66% increase over the previous year. These losses stemmed from investment scams, extortion, sextortion and fraudulent activity involving cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in March that consumers reported losing more money to investment scams than any other category of fraud in 2024. Consumers reported losing $5.7 billion to investment scams last year, a 24% increase over 2023.

Digital risk protection platform CTM360 said in July that it identified more than 17,000 fake news sites used by scammers to promote investment fraud. These sites are promoted through fake news articles posted through ad platforms or social media, are designed to look like legitimate news outlets, and publish fabricated stories designed to lure readers into scams.

The Justice Department said in June that it filed a civil forfeiture complaint targeting $225.3 million in cryptocurrency that it said was connected to the theft and laundering of funds from victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes.

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Bitwise Turns ‘Really Bullish’ on Ethereum and Solana as Stablecoins Drive Structural Demand Shift

Published

19 hours ago

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December 23, 2025

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Bitwise Turns ‘Really Bullish’ on Ethereum and Solana as Stablecoins Drive Structural Demand Shift
Bitwise says shifting crypto narratives are really bullish for Ethereum, Solana, and stablecoins, citing structural demand, ETF accumulation exceeding issuance, and regulatory momentum that could drive the market’s next growth phase into 2026 and beyond.
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Crypto

Summit County Sheriff’s Office recovers over $100,000 in cryptocurrency investigation

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1 day ago

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December 23, 2025

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Summit County Sheriff’s Office recovers over 0,000 in cryptocurrency investigation

SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – A City of Green resident reported being the victim of a cryptocurrency investment fraud in early October, resulting in a significant financial loss and opening an investigation.

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau initiated an investigation utilizing detailed information and financial records provided by the victim.

According to a release from the sheriff’s office, there was assistance from Jackson Township Police Department’s cryptocurrency recovery “Trace Team” and detectives were able to successfully trace and recover $110,000 of stolen funds.

The sheriff’s office reminds the public to remain alert regarding cryptocurrency investment scams and fake investment platforms.

These schemes often begin by encouraging small initial investments that appear to generate returns, creating a false sense of credibility.

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The sheriff’s office said once trust is established and larger investments are made, the funds are frequently transferred and become inaccessible.

For public safety, people are encouraged to thoroughly search any investment opportunity and exercise caution when dealing with unsolicited or online investment platforms.

The release from the sheriff’s office says that if anyone believes they may be a victim of cryptocurrency or investment fraud, they should immediately contact their local law enforcement agency and file an online complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said it remains committed to protecting the community and working with partner agencies to investigate and combat financial crimes.

Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.

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