The recent arrest of Roger Ver, an early Bitcoin investor and Bitcoin Cash advocate, on tax evasion charges in the United States has ignited a range of reactions across the cryptocurrency community. Ver, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 and became a Japanese citizen, was detained in Spain on April 30. The charges against him include mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns, with allegations of evading $48 million in taxes from his 2017 cryptocurrency sales.

The crypto community is deeply divided over the arrest. While a few, like long-term Bitcoin supporter Dan Held, approve of the arrest claiming Ver has been detrimental to Bitcoin, many veterans are decrying the U.S. Department of Justice’s approach. They argue that the charges are unjust, given Ver’s non-U.S. citizen status during the period of the alleged crimes.

Social media platforms, particularly crypto-focused accounts, have been vocal about the situation. Pledditor, a notable account on platform X, suggested that Ver’s legal troubles might be linked to his involvement with companies like Binance, Genesis, and 3AC, which have faced their investigations.

Paul Sztorc, founder and CEO of LayerTwo Labs, defended Ver on Twitter, stating that Ver had complied with all legal tax obligations in both the U.S. and Japan, questioning the fairness of the arrest years after his tax compliance. Kim Dotcom, another crypto veteran, echoed this sentiment, describing the indictment as a “witch hunt” against Ver for his political views and support for figures like Julian Assange.

Jane Adams, a U.S. House Candidate and Bitcoin supporter for 2024, argued that Ver’s arrest represents a broader assault on dissent, pointing to his advocacy against U.S. policies and his support for press freedom as potential reasons for the government’s targeting.

Amid these controversies, the crypto community is also concerned about broader implications, as DavidShares highlighted on X. He noted that the Biden administration appears to be intensifying efforts against the cryptocurrency sector with upcoming elections, suggesting a possible trend of increased regulatory actions.

SOURCE: Crypto veterans call out DOJ for targeting Roger Ver a decade after he left US