Vitalik: 'Bitcoin Jesus' Roger Ver Being Sentenced to Life in Prison for Tax Evasion Is Absurd

BlockBeats News, March 1st, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin posted a message stating, "Being sentenced to life in prison for non-violent tax crimes is absurd."

The case against "Bitcoin Jesus" Roger Ver seems to have a strong political motivation; just like the case of the Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, many individuals and companies have been accused of more serious crimes but have faced much lighter sentences than Roger.

If the IRS is indeed threatening Roger's lawyers to obtain confidential information, that is a malicious act; the right to confidential legal counsel must be held sacrosanct. Genuine good-faith mistakes should be corrected by giving the individuals an opportunity to pay their taxes (including interest and penalties), rather than through prosecution."