Roger Ver, a key figure in the early days of bitcoin, has initiated legal action against Spain in the European Court of Human Rights to block his potential extradition to the United States, where he faces charges of tax evasion. The lawsuit, submitted last month, follows an indictment against Ver for alleged tax fraud, as announced by the US Department of Justice. Ver, now an advocate for Bitcoin Cash, was detained in Spain, prompting the DOJ to seek his extradition.
The DOJ claims Ver failed to report $240 million in cash from a 2017 bitcoin sale to the IRS, citing his status as a US citizen at the time. The complaint asserts that Spain's decision constitutes a miscarriage of justice and a violation of extradition protocols, suggesting that Spanish authorities should have denied the US request to protect Ver's freedom. The case is currently under review by the European Court of Human Rights.