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>>A man known online as "Bitcoin Jesus" has reached a $48 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in a tax fraud case.

A man known online as "Bitcoin Jesus" has reached a $48 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in a tax fraud case.

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about 10 hours ago

Settlement with the DOJ

Roger Ver, known as "Bitcoin Jesus," has reached a $48 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve criminal tax fraud charges. The agreement involves a deferred prosecution, meaning charges will be dropped if he complies with the DOJ's conditions. He is required to pay $48 million to the government as part of the resolution. The specifics of the agreement have not yet been formally filed in court.

Allegations and Legal Proceedings

Ver was accused of tax evasion and fraud related to failing to pay taxes on his digital currency holdings. He renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 and was arrested in Spain following an extradition request. During the legal proceedings, Ver sought assistance from individuals with ties to former President Donald Trump.

Trump Allies and Presidential Intervention

Ver reportedly paid Roger Stone $600,000 to help challenge the tax charges and also engaged other lawyers and a lobbying firm connected to Trump. He publicly requested presidential intervention, claiming he was being targeted for his political beliefs and cryptocurrency advocacy. This came amid a shift in the U.S. government's stance on cryptocurrency since Trump's return to office.

Cryptocurrency Policy Shift

The U.S. government has eased enforcement and dropped several lawsuits against cryptocurrency firms. Trump has also issued pardons and clemency requests related to cryptocurrency-related offenses, including those involving Silk Road and BitMEX. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is also seeking clemency.