Ripple CTO Defends Roger Ver Amid U.S. Legal Battle

Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has weighed in on the controversial legal case against Roger Ver, a prominent early Bitcoin investor often called “Bitcoin Jesus.” Responding to public interest in the "Free Roger" movement, Schwartz argued that Ver has been unfairly targeted by U.S. authorities for years, far beyond the current tax-related charges.

Ver, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, was arrested in Spain in May 2024 after the U.S. requested his extradition. Prosecutors allege that he concealed over 131,000 BTC during his exit, evading nearly $50 million in taxes. Additional charges include mail fraud and submitting false returns. Ver has since been released on bail and is awaiting the outcome of his extradition hearing in Spain.

Schwartz, while limited by a non-disclosure agreement, hinted at a deeper, more sinister context. “It’s way more evil than most people realize,” he stated, suggesting a long-standing campaign to suppress Ver for his pro-freedom stance and unorthodox views in the crypto space.

Ver was an early investor in major crypto projects like BitPay, Kraken, Blockchain.com, and Ripple. While his later support for Bitcoin Cash drew criticism, Schwartz emphasized that Ver acted from conviction, not personal gain. “He thought it was the right thing to do,” Schwartz wrote, defending Ver’s decisions as consistent with his libertarian values.

The case remains ongoing, but for some—including Ripple’s CTO—it symbolizes more than a tax dispute. It reflects years of ideological conflict between crypto pioneers and regulatory forces, reigniting debate over freedom, innovation, and government overreach in the blockchain industry.