Roger Ver, known as 'Bitcoin Jesus,' has been granted temporary freedom in Spain on a $163,000 bail. This development comes as the United States steps up efforts to extradite him on charges of dodging $48M in taxes. Ver claims he is not a fugitive.
Spanish officials have ordered that Ver not leave the country, surrender his passport, and appear in a local court every two days. The US claims that Ver, an early Bitcoin enthusiast, sold around $240M in Bitcoin in 2017 but allegedly failed to declare these substantial capital gains to the IRS.
Ver renounced his US citizenship in 2014, getting his citizenship in St. Kitts & Nevis. However, his need to file tax returns on specified assets in the United States remained. Ver's impact in the crypto field stems from his early support for Bitcoin.
His legal team refutes the idea that Ver is avoiding legal confrontation. They cite his proactive communication with US authorities via legal channels in California. This complex court case shows the increasing scrutiny public crypto figures might carry.
