Vitalik Buterin and Crypto Leaders Push for Roger Ver’s Presidential Pardon

In Brief

Vitalik Buterin and other crypto figures advocate for Roger Ver’s pardon, arguing his prosecution is politically motivated.

Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” faces charges for allegedly evading $48 million in taxes after being arrested in Spain in February 2024.

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and other major crypto leaders are calling for Roger Ver’s clemency, claiming his legal battle is unfairly harsh. Ver, once a leading Bitcoin evangelist, was arrested in Barcelona and faces tax fraud charges in the U.S. amounting to $48 million.

Buterin suggested that authorities should allow Ver to settle any unpaid taxes with penalties rather than face severe legal consequences. Others, including Ross Ulbricht and Kraken co-founder Jesse Powell, have echoed these concerns, comparing Ver’s case to past politically charged prosecutions in the crypto space.

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However, Elon Musk, now leading the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has dismissed the possibility of a pardon, stating that Ver forfeited his right by renouncing U.S. citizenship.

Polymarket odds suggest only a 7% chance that Donald Trump will grant Ver clemency within his first 100 days in office. While crypto leaders push for justice, Ver’s fate remains uncertain, with his Spanish residency further complicating his case.

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