Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly criticized the potential life sentence facing early Bitcoin investor Roger Ver, describing it as absurd and politically motivated. Roger Ver risks 109 years in prison.

Buterin highlighted that many individuals and corporations accused of more severe offenses have received significantly lighter sentences.

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 vitalik.eth on X: "Going to prison for the rest of your life over non-violent tax offenses is absurd. The case against Roger seems very politically motivated; like with @RealRossU, there have been plenty of people and corporations who have been accused of far worse and yet faced sentences far" 

Ver, often referred to as "Bitcoin Jesus" for his early advocacy of cryptocurrency. Ver is known for being one of the earliest and most vocal investors in Bitcoin.

He was indicted in April 2024 on charges including mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns.

The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Ver concealed substantial Bitcoin holdings during his 2014 expatriation, resulting in a tax loss of approximately $48 million to the IRS. ​

In response, Ver's legal team filed a motion on December 3, 2024, to dismiss the charges, arguing that the IRS's exit tax is unconstitutionally vague and violates both the Apportionment Clause and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. ​

Buterin's stance aligns with other prominent figures in the crypto community. Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment and later pardoned, expressed support for Ver, stating that no one should "spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes."

Ross Ulbricht on X: "Roger Ver was there for me when I was down and needed help. Now Roger needs our support. No one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes. Let him pay the tax (if any) and be done with it. 

Similarly, Kraken founder Jesse Powell criticized the severity of the potential sentence, suggesting that authorities are targeting Ver due to personal biases rather than the nature of his alleged crimes. ​

Ver maintains that the charges are a form of political retaliation for his outspoken advocacy of cryptocurrencies, rather than genuine tax-related concerns. ​

As of now, Ver remains in Spain, contesting extradition to the United States.

The case has intensified discussions about the U.S. tax system, particularly the exit tax imposed on citizens renouncing their citizenship with substantial assets, and its application to digital assets like cryptocurrencies.