Roger Ver, known in the crypto world as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has taken to Twitter to plead with President Donald Trump to prevent his extradition to the United States. The plea came in the form of a desperate and direct tweet on January 26, where he stated, “Mr. President, I am an American, and I need your help. Only you, with your commitment to justice, can save me @realDonaldTrump.”
Ver, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, is currently facing federal charges that could see him facing over a century in prison. Born on January 27, 1979, in San Jose, California, Ver’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 19. While still in college, he founded MemoryDealers.com in 1999, a company that sold computer components. It quickly became a prominent player in the market under his leadership.
In 2005, Ver launched Agilestar.com, a company specializing in optical transceivers, which found clientele among Fortune 100 companies. These early successes paved the way for his foray into the world of Bitcoin. Ver discovered Bitcoin in 2011 when it was still priced under $1. He was mesmerized by its potential to disrupt traditional financial systems and swiftly incorporated it into his businesses.
He also personally invested over $1 million into early Bitcoin startups, including now-giant companies like Blockchain.com, Kraken, and Ripple. His plea for assistance now centers on President Trump, who has already shown a willingness to enact crypto-friendly policies and has pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.
Ver’s journey, however, took a dramatic turn in 2017 when he shifted his allegiance from Bitcoin to Bitcoin Cash (BCH). This fork of Bitcoin promised faster transactions and lower fees, addressing what Ver saw as critical flaws in Bitcoin. He criticized Bitcoin’s community for abandoning its original ethos, stating, “Bitcoin isn’t about holding and hoping the price goes up. It’s about making financial systems better than PayPal or Visa.”
Upon renouncing his U.S. citizenship, Ver gained citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis through its citizenship-by-investment program. He often speaks about the importance of having a second passport as a safeguard against government overreach.
Ver has also sparked controversy with his statements on Bitcoin, once describing it as “a pyramid scheme” and criticizing Bitcoin maximalists for their lack of understanding about gold’s industrial uses. Despite this, he has remained a significant figure in the crypto community, hailed by some as a visionary and seen by others as an opportunist who undermined Bitcoin to promote Bitcoin Cash.
With President Trump signing an executive order for crypto in the Oval Office last week, it’s possible that Ver might return to America within the month. As it stands, the crypto world eagerly awaits the outcome of this high-profile plea.
