How 'Bitcoin Jesus' Avoided Prison, Thanks to One of the "Friends of Trump"

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Days into President Donald Trump's second term in the White House, a cryptocurrency billionaire posted a video on X to his hundreds of thousands of followers. "Please Donald Trump, I need your help," he said, wearing a flag pin askew and seated awkwardly in an armchair. "I am an American. ... Help me come home." The speaker, 46-year-old Roger Ver, was in fact no longer a U.S. citizen.

Posted by retort at 12:33 PM | 7 COMMENTS | permalink

The fugitive known as "Bitcoin Jesus" was indicted for tax evasion and facing prison. Then he hired a "Friend of Trump." This is how it went down, from Avi Asher-Schapiro & @mtredden.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/bitc ...

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-- Jesse Eisinger (@jeisinger.bsky.social) Jan 22, 2026 at 7:03 AM

Comments

Like BILL says, Trump is on a mission from God.

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-22 12:51 PM

This guy renounced citizenship years ago. The IRS shouldn't be going after him for anything.

#2 | Posted by THEBULL at 2026-01-22 01:15 PM

Non-citizens don't have to pay taxes to the IRS... Just another benefit of those Trump Golden Passports I guess.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-22 01:17 PM

Yeah 2014, over a decade ago when the price was like 60 bucks for each Bitcoin. Of course now they want the tax money based on the current value. Crazy.

#4 | Posted by THEBULL at 2026-01-22 01:19 PM

This guy renounced citizenship years ago. The IRS shouldn't be going after him for anything.

#2 | Posted by THEBULL

You mean the IRS shouldnt go after anyone who supports the dictator

#5 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-01-22 01:47 PM

This guy renounced citizenship years ago. The IRS shouldn't be going after him for anything.

When a person has effectively connected income inside the US, they are required to pay income taxes on it.

Ver was able to pull off this coup by taking advantage of a new dynamic inside of Trump's Department of Justice.

Buying a get out of jail free card is hardly new.

#6 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-01-23 08:46 AM

This guy renounced citizenship years ago. The IRS shouldn't be going after him for anything.

#2 | Posted by THEBULL

Oh, is that how it works? You can own companies in the US but they don't have to pay taxes if you're not a citizen? How come every foreign owned company doesn't do it?

"Then in 2017, the government alleged, Ver tried to conceal the transfer of roughly $240 million in bitcoin from U.S. companies to his personal accounts. In all, the government said he had evaded nearly $50 million in taxes."

#7 | Posted by Derek_Wildstar at 2026-01-23 03:48 PM

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