‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Roger Ver Arrested in Spain, Former Binance CEO CZ Sentenced to Months in Prison, XRP Advocate Exposes Key SEC Weakness: Crypto News Digest by U.Today

As a researcher with a background in finance and technology, I find these three news stories particularly intriguing. The first story about Roger Ver’s arrest is a stark reminder of the importance of complying with tax laws, no matter how appealing it may be to seek ways to minimize taxes. Ver’s actions, which reportedly involved giving false information and failing to disclose crypto sales, have led him to face serious charges and potential extradition back to the United States. I am saddened to see someone who was once a pioneer in the Bitcoin movement facing such consequences.


Here are the three most significant news headlines from U.Today for the past day of April:

Bitcoin Jesus” Roger Ver arrested

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of Roger Ver, a well-known early Bitcoin investor and advocate, in Spain last weekend. According to this announcement, Ver stands accused of mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns in the United States. Reportedly, the financial damage caused to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by Ver is estimated at over $48 million. Following his arrest, it’s anticipated that he will be returned to the U.S. for trial. It’s worth mentioning that Ver first learned about Bitcoin back in 2011 and quickly became one of its strongest advocates, earning him the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus.” In 2014, Ver renounced his American citizenship to become a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis. However, he was still obligated to pay an exit tax on his global assets, including his cryptocurrency holdings. To minimize his tax liability, Ver reportedly provided false information about his U.S.-based businesses to his appraiser and law firm. Importantly, Ver neglected to inform his accountant that in 2017, he had sold approximately $240 million worth of Bitcoin from these companies. Additionally, he failed to pay any taxes on the distribution of these coins.

CZ sentenced to months in prison

Yesterday, April 30, marked the day of the long-awaited verdict for Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, the former CEO of Binance. I, as an analyst, am here to share some insights into this significant legal development. In a Seattle courtroom, Judge Richard Jones handed down a four-month prison sentence to Zhao for violating U.S. money laundering laws. Jones considered his decision “appropriate” and “reasonable,” believing that with the necessary resources at his disposal, Zhao could have adhered to U.S. regulations but failed to do so.

Ripple v. SEC: XRP advocate exposes key SEC weakness

In a recent post on X, Fred Rispoli, a well-known figure in the XRP community and legal expert, brought attention to a possible flaw in the SEC’s case in the ongoing Ripple-SEC legal dispute. The crux of Rispoli’s latest assessment revolves around Ripple’s motion to reverse the SEC’s expert disclosure in their submission. He was taken aback by the timing of Ripple’s filing and pointed out a significant error on the part of the SEC: their failure to request depositions. This omission could potentially weaken the SEC’s stance, especially if certain witnesses were incorrectly identified in the disclosure statement. Rispoli underlined the significance of this oversight and discussed potential consequences for Ripple’s defense strategy. According to the expert, Ripple’s late response might have repercussions, emphasizing the urgency of prompt action. However, his assessment hinted at a possible approach for Ripple’s legal team, speculating on how Judge Netburn may respond to the SEC’s procedural blunder.

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2024-05-01 19:30