Bitcoin early investor Roger Ver, known as the “Bitcoin Jesus,” recently gave an exclusive interview to American journalist Tucker Carlson to discuss his ongoing legal dispute with the US government and his claims of suppression of Bitcoin’s original vision.
Ver renounced his US citizenship in 2014 and was arrested in Spain in April of this year. US authorities are seeking his extradition on charges of tax evasion, mail fraud, and submitting false tax returns. According to the US Department of Justice, Ver failed to report capital gains from the sale of Bitcoin when he renounced his citizenship in 2014 and undervalued the worth of two companies. Prosecutors allege that Ver concealed his ownership of 131,000 Bitcoins, worth nearly $240 million when sold in 2017, resulting in a tax shortfall of $48 million.
However, Ver strongly refutes these charges, believing that the US government’s true dissatisfaction stems not from alleged tax issues but from his long-standing promotion of using cryptocurrencies for financial autonomy. He sees cryptocurrencies as a threat to the government’s control over the monetary system.
Ver has consistently advocated for Bitcoin to function as “peer-to-peer cash” and has criticized its transformation into a speculative asset. He believes that the early hope for Bitcoin as an alternative to fiat currency has been subverted by intelligence agencies and institutional players.
In his book “Hijacking Bitcoin” published earlier this year, Ver elaborates on these claims. Host Carlson acknowledges the ideological shift in cryptocurrencies, noting that Bitcoin initially promised freedom and self-control over one’s money but now feels different. Carlson expresses great interest in how this transformation has occurred.
During the interview, Ver alleges that US institutions have attempted to stifle the potential of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. He accuses intelligence agencies of intervening early on to undermine Bitcoin’s narrative as a medium of exchange. Ver claims that online forums like early Bitcoin forum bitcointalk.org and the Bitcoin subreddit r/bitcoin on Reddit have been manipulated and censored, causing Bitcoin to deviate from its initial decentralized purpose.
When asked if he believes Bitcoin was initially created by US intelligence agencies, Ver responds:
Despite facing a possible 109-year imprisonment, Ver remains optimistic. He hopes that the Spanish court will reject the US extradition request and emphasizes the need for public advocacy. He states, “There are many ways to stop this, but I think the most effective way is for the public to speak up. The more people speak up, the safer we all are.”
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