Roger Ver, the crypto investor once known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has handed Roger Stone a check for $600,000 to lobby for him in Washington, after being hit with criminal tax and fraud charges in the United States, according to a report from the New York Times. Stone filed official paperwork last month confirming the payment and his new role, following Ver’s arrest in Spain in 2024. The filings show Stone has been paid since February 2025 to push back against the exact tax rules that landed Ver in trouble. Ver, who gave up his US citizenship in 2014, is accused of hiding crypto assets worth tens of millions of dollars to dodge $48 million in taxes. The Justice Department said Ver was taken into custody last year and faces extradition to the US to stand trial. Prosecutors say Ver didn’t report the real value of his Bitcoin before renouncing his citizenship, a requirement under the exit tax law. Ver launches full campaign to beat the charges In January, Ver released a video claiming he could face over 100 years in prison. He said the charges weren’t just about tax, they were political. In the clip, he directly appealed to President Donald Trump, calling himself a target of the same government forces that have gone after Trump. “If there’s anybody that knows what it’s like to be the victim of lawfare for spreading American ideals, it’s Donald Trump,” Ver said. “They’re doing the exact same thing to me that they’ve done to you.” The video showed footage of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, tying Ver’s case to Trump’s claims of political persecution. Ver’s team is hitting every angle. He’s got lawyers challenging the exit tax, calling it “inscrutably vague as to their application to crypto.” For decades, I've been terrorized by rogue U.S. government agents who hate American freedom. This is my story: pic.twitter.com/NEetn1b3r4 — Roger Ver (@rogerkver) January 27, 2025 They say the law is unclear and unfair when applied to digital coins. His legal argument is backed by lobbying, PR, and now a powerful connection to Trump’s inner circle. Stone’s filings show that his job includes pushing Congress to eliminate the exit tax and change how crypto is taxed. In his own words, Stone said he’s focused on “ending the exit tax and reform of cryptocurrency tax policy.” He also said in a text message that he has spoken with lawmakers and has “at all times advocated reform of the current laws regarding taxes upon expatriation.” But Stone claimed he hasn’t spoken to Trump or anyone in the executive branch about Ver. “I have not lobbied any official in the executive branch of government including the president regarding his case or a pardon,” Stone reportedly said in a message to the Times. He said his job is to advise Ver’s attorney, not to directly ask for help from Trump. Trump’s crypto ties still raising questions Stone and Ver know exactly who they’re dealing with. Trump has become crypto’s biggest political ally since returning to the White House in 2025. The crypto industry gave millions to support his campaign and his inauguration. And Trump, in return, pulled back government enforcement and helped crypto projects gain ground. Trump’s family is also involved in crypto ventures. His administration has taken steps to boost the industry and stay out of its way. Last month, Trump granted pardons to the three founders of BitMEX, who had pleaded guilty to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act in 2022. The law is meant to stop money laundering, but crypto players argue it’s outdated. Longtime Bitcoin investor Arthur Hayes was among the founders pardoned, as Cryptopolitan reported . Before that, Trump also pardoned a different Bitcoin developer who had been locked up for life over Silk Road, the online marketplace used for drug sales. Now, other convicted crypto figures are hoping for the same treatment. That includes Sam Bankman-Fried, the FTX founder now serving 25 years for fraud. But Ver has become the latest crypto name to rise to the top of that pardon wishlist. In December, Stone’s personal website published an essay from an activist titled “Why Roger Ver deserves a presidential pardon.” Stone has been close to Trump for decades, and Trump pardoned him in 2021 after Stone was convicted of lying to Congress during the Russia investigation. Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now
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