Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and self-described head of the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” has waded into a heated crypto community debate, arguing that Bitcoin Cash advocate Roger Ver should not receive a presidential pardon due to his renounced U.S. citizenship.
“Roger Ver gave up his US citizenship. No pardon for Ver. Membership has its privileges,” Musk posted on X, referencing Ver’s 2014 decision to relinquish his American status. The remarks carry weight given Musk’s reported influence over President Donald Trump, who last week fulfilled a campaign promise by pardoning Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht — a move widely celebrated in crypto circles.
Ver, an early Bitcoin investor turned Bitcoin Cash proponent, was arrested in Spain in April 2024 on U.S. charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. The Department of Justice alleges Ver hid millions in bitcoin holdings from the IRS, resulting in $48 million in unpaid taxes.
Ver, however, claims he has been targeted for decades by “rogue U.S. government agents who hate American freedom” following clashes over his libertarian political activism in the early 2000s. After renouncing citizenship, he asserts the U.S. launched a retaliatory “lawfare campaign” to silence his criticism. “I followed legal advice in filing my exit taxes,” Ver maintains.
While Ulbricht’s release united much of the crypto industry, Ver’s case has sparked division. Some, like Casa CSO Jameson Lopp, echoed Musk’s stance: “You aren’t an American anymore. Remember when you renounced your citizenship?”
Others, including Bnk To The Future CEO Simon Dixon, argued Ver’s prosecution is disproportionate: “Whatever you think about Roger Ver, he does not deserve life in prison.” Blockchain.com CEO Peter Smith and Kraken co-founder Jesse Powell rallied behind Ver, calling his treatment an “unjust abuse of power.” Powell criticized the “disgusting” notion that non-citizens deserve no legal mercy.
The debate highlights tensions as Trump’s pro-crypto administration weighs further pardons, including Tornado Cash developers and Virgil Griffith, who faces charges for discussing blockchain in North Korea. Ver’s case now tests the limits of crypto’s political influence — and whether industry leaders will rally behind controversial figures.
Ver, once dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus” for evangelizing the asset, has long been a polarizing figure, particularly after championing Bitcoin Cash during the 2017 Bitcoin network split. His legal battle now serves as a flashpoint for debates over citizenship, justice, and crypto’s role in shaping U.S. policy.
