Marla Maples Calls for End to Persecution of Roger Ver Amid US Case

Marla Maples, the second ex-wife of US President Donald Trump, has become the latest high-profile figure to support Roger Ver, an early advocate of Bitcoin and a prominent cryptocurrency figure. Maples is publicly backing the movement to dismiss the charges against Ver, who is known in the cryptocurrency community as “Bitcoin Jesus.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on March 16, Maples shared a video calling for an end to the prosecution of Roger Ver. The video, created by an organization supporting Ver, tags Trump, Elon Musk, and US Attorney General Pam Bondi, encouraging them to act on the case. Maples voiced her support for Ver, expressing concern about the ongoing legal proceedings that have drawn significant attention from the cryptocurrency world and beyond.

The Charges Against Roger Ver

Roger Ver, one of the earliest Bitcoin advocates, is facing serious charges from the US Department of Justice. In April 2024, he was charged with mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. The charges stem from allegations that Ver concealed the amount of Bitcoin he owned when he renounced his US citizenship in 2014. The government claims that Ver defrauded the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) out of $48 million by failing to report the gains he made through selling the Bitcoin. 

Ver’s legal troubles began after his renouncement of US citizenship, which, according to the IRS, triggered an “exit tax.” However, Ver argues that the tax laws are unclear when applied to cryptocurrency and claims the charges are unconstitutional. He has appealed to President Trump for a pardon, asserting that he is a victim of "lawfare"—the use of legal actions as a form of political persecution.

Support from High-Profile Figures

Maples is not the only prominent figure to lend her support to Ver. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road online black market, have also spoken out against the prosecution. Ulbricht, who faced a double life sentence before being pardoned by Trump in January, has voiced solidarity with Ver, further amplifying the voices calling for the end of the legal action against him.

Ver himself has also pleaded directly to Trump for a pardon, citing the unfairness of his prosecution and the ambiguity of tax laws when it comes to cryptocurrencies. Despite these efforts, neither Trump nor the White House has publicly responded to Ver’s request for clemency.

Ver’s Legal Battle and Extradition

Ver’s legal battle escalated when he was arrested in Spain after the US indictment. Pending extradition to the US, Ver was granted bail on the condition that he remain in Spain. The case has become a focal point for those advocating for clarity and fairness in the treatment of cryptocurrency-related matters within the legal system.

In December 2024, Ver moved to dismiss the charges against him, arguing that they are unconstitutional. His legal team also challenged the IRS’s “exit tax” provisions, asserting that the law is "inscrutably vague" when applied to cryptocurrency assets. These legal challenges have raised significant questions about how cryptocurrencies are treated by the US tax authorities and how the law should evolve to accommodate the growing digital asset space.

A Divisive Issue with Major Implications

The case against Roger Ver is becoming a divisive issue, particularly in the cryptocurrency world, where many view him as a pioneering figure. His prosecution has sparked debates over how the US government should regulate digital currencies, especially as more people and businesses engage with blockchain technology.

The support for Ver from figures like Marla Maples, Vitalik Buterin, and Ross Ulbricht reflects a broader push to reconsider the fairness of prosecuting individuals in the crypto space under existing laws. With the increasing prominence of digital currencies in global financial markets, the outcome of Ver’s case could have far-reaching implications for how cryptocurrency is treated by regulators and the legal system in the future.

As the legal process unfolds, eyes will remain on the US government’s actions and whether influential voices like Maples, Trump, and Musk will weigh in to influence the direction of the case. For now, the battle continues, with Ver’s supporters rallying behind him in hopes of securing his release from what they perceive as an unjust prosecution.