Latest news with #Ver
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Bitcoin Jesus' Roger Ver shells $600,000 to Trump's ally to navigate tax case
Roger Ver, also referred to as 'Bitcoin Jesus' for his early support of cryptocurrency, has tapped a long-time ally of US President Donald Trump to help him navigate through legal trouble. The New York Times reported on Apr. 24 that Ver had reached out to senior political advisor Roger Stone. Ver, who was indicted last year over alleged tax fraud, has reportedly paid $600,000 to Stone for assistance. On Apr. 30, Ver was accused of allegedly hiding $48 million in taxes linked to his crypto holdings, as per the official documents of the Justice Department. The Department has alleged that in 2017, Ver failed to report capital gains churned by selling an estimated 70,000 BTC tokens, valued at approximately $240 million at the time. Ver was arrested in Spain owing to the tax fraud charge levied by the DOJ. In the US, the Criminal Investigation unit of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is overseeing the probe over Ver. Ver paid a bail amount of EUR 150,000 (roughly $170,600) in Spain for his release. He was asked to surrender his passport and appear regularly before Spanish authorities as part of his bail condition. Ver, the former CEO of wallet developer, renounced his US citizenship in 2014 to become a national of St. Kitts and Nevis without allegedly clearing his tax dues. He is now contesting his extradition to the US. Stone has been advocating on Ver's behalf since February 2025. He is reportedly pushing for an amendment in the 'exit tax' law, a rule that mandates US nationals to pay taxes on unrealized capital gains before renouncing their nationality. 'I have not lobbied any official in the executive branch... including the president,' The NYT quoted Stone. For now, the Trump ally only plans on advising Ver's legal team. President Trump envisions the transformation of the US into the crypto capital of the world under his presidency. Over the last few months, federal agencies have dropped multiple cases against crypto players like Binance, Ripple, and OpenSea as the country forges forward on its pro-crypto roadmap. Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Indicted ‘Bitcoin Jesus' Pays Roger Stone $600,000 to Lobby for Him
Roger J. Stone Jr., the longtime associate of President Trump's, has been lobbying for a pioneering cryptocurrency investor known as 'Bitcoin Jesus' who is facing federal fraud and criminal tax charges, according to congressional filings. Mr. Stone filed paperwork last month indicating that he had been retained by Roger Ver, an early Bitcoin investor who was charged last year and accused of shielding his cryptocurrency holdings from $48 million in taxes. Mr. Stone noted in a filing last week that he had been paid $600,000 by Mr. Ver since early February to help his client's case, partly by trying to abolish the tax provisions at the heart of the charges. Mr. Ver, a former California resident who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014, was arrested last year in Spain, according to the Justice Department, which announced plans at the time to extradite him. Mr. Ver disputed the charges, claiming in a social media post in January that he was being threatened with a possible sentence of more than 100 years in prison because of his political views and his role in promoting cryptocurrency. In the video, which was framed as an appeal to Mr. Trump, Mr. Ver linked his case to the president's grievances about the weaponization of the justice system. As footage of former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and former Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on the screen, Mr. Ver said that 'if there's anybody that knows what it's like to be the victim of lawfare for spreading American ideals, it's Donald Trump.' 'They're doing the exact same thing to me that they've done to you,' he added. Mr. Ver did not respond to a request for comment. His lobbying, public relations and legal campaign comes as Mr. Trump has embraced cryptocurrency and dialed back efforts to crack down on the industry, which donated millions of dollars to committees raising money for Mr. Trump's presidential campaign and inauguration. Mr. Trump's family is involved in several cryptocurrency-related ventures. His administration has announced initiatives to stimulate the industry, and has backed away from enforcement against crypto companies. Mr. Trump pardoned a different Bitcoin pioneer who was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for creating Silk Road, the world's largest online drug marketplace. Last month, he also granted pardons to three founders of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX who had pleaded guilty in 2022 to violating guidelines in the Bank Secrecy Act, a law that protects against money laundering. Other figures in the crypto world have been angling for clemency, including Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the failed FTX crypto exchange who is serving a 25-year sentence for fraud. Mr. Ver's case has become something of a cause célèbre among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, who have called for a pardon. In December, Mr. Stone's website posted an essay by an activist titled 'Why Roger Ver deserves a presidential pardon.' In the final month of his first term, Mr. Trump pardoned Mr. Stone's conviction for obstructing a congressional investigation into Mr. Trump's 2016 campaign and its possible ties to Russia. But Mr. Stone told The New York Times that he was not relying on his decades-long relationship with Mr. Trump to help Mr. Ver. 'I have not lobbied any official in the executive branch of government including the president regarding his case or a pardon,' Mr. Stone wrote in a text message. Instead, he indicated that he was hired primarily to advise Mr. Ver's lawyer. In court filings, Mr. Ver's legal team has called the tax laws in question 'inscrutably vague as to their application to digital assets of the kind that underlie the charges.' His lawyers have challenged the constitutionality of the so-called 'exit tax' requiring Americans to settle tax obligations before renouncing their citizenship. Prosecutors accused Mr. Ver of concealing the value of his Bitcoin holdings while preparing his expatriation tax filings. Mr. Stone indicated in his lobbying filings that he had lobbied the House about 'ending the exit tax and reform of cryptocurrency tax policy.' Mr. Stone said in a text message that he had discussed Mr. Ver's case with lawmakers, and had 'at all times advocated reform of the current laws regarding taxes upon expatriation.'
Filipino Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Overseas voting sees steady increase in Abu Dhabi, PH Embassy says
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi has observed a continued rise in both voter pre-enrolment and actual participation in the 2025 national elections, following the launch of the official online voting period on April 13, 2025. 'The figures for both sustain an upward trend throughout, albeit a momentary halt during the peak of the Holy Week season,' Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso A. Ver said in a statement sent to the media. According to Ambassador Ver reported technical issues, such as unstable internet connections, difficulties with older devices, or problems receiving one-time passwords, were addressed through on-site assistance and round-the-clock support provided by COMELEC's Help Desk. 'While public sentiments over online voting and the overall voting system remained diverse, all technical questions and case-specific concerns were all properly addressed in official channels — over the counter, phone call, e-mail, or WhatsApp,' he said. The Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to raising civic awareness and making consular services more accessible, especially in areas with many Filipino residents. Together with the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, it continues to hold outreach programs to bring services closer to Filipinos living far from the capital. Registered overseas voters are encouraged to complete their pre-enrolment by May 7 to ensure eligibility to vote. The overseas voting period will conclude on May 12, 2025.
Khaleej Times
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Philippine elections: First day of online voting saw promising turnout from Filipinos in UAE, says ambassador
The first day of the historic online voting for overseas Filipinos in the UAE that kicked off on Sunday 'saw a promising turnout, despite some technical issues,' Philippine ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand A. Ver told Khaleej Times. This is the first time internet voting is being held for registered overseas Filipino voters to select their next national and sectoral leaders. This means no more queues at the Philippine missions to cast ballots. 'The first day of overseas online voting started with some technical issues but we were not deterred, and these issues were immediately addressed by the Philippine Commission on Elections' (Comelec) 24/7 tech support,' Ver said. He added: 'I am not allowed to tell the initial turnout of voters, but it was a promising turnout, and more importantly it helped in accelerating the rate of online enrollment, which can still be done until May 7.' To participate in online voting, eligible Filipino citizens in the UAE must be registered overseas voters and enlisted under the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate-General in Dubai. Then, they have to pre-enroll on the Comelec voting portal ( to verify and confirm their details. This step takes not more than five minutes, Ver confirmed. The final step is to go to the Comelec voting website ( Voting can be done any time of the day until May 12, 3pm (UAE time). Filipinos can vote using their mobile phones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers with built-in cameras, or ones that can be plugged with a camera and are capable of connecting to the internet running on any web browser. No more queues In the past, Filipino voters complained they were not able to vote because they had to go to the embassy or the consulate to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Now, they can just go online and vote – at their most convenient time and place. Ver said on Sunday: 'The interesting thing is that there was no queue of people who came to vote – which was a standard feature of the previous overseas voting. A few came to the embassy to ask for assistance in enrolling online and then they went ahead to cast their votes. 'This proves that online voting is the way to go for our community in the UAE. The online voting system is indeed not just a practical and easy way but it is also secure and credible,' he noted, adding: 'As for the enrollment figure, this is hovering at 5 per cent of our total number of registered voters (the total number of registered voters in Abu Dhabi stands at 66,001). 'I reiterate my call to my kababayan (countrymen), particularly the registered voters to enroll and cast their votes, and show the power and presence of the overseas Filipinos in strengthening our democratic institutions and make a concrete contribution to shaping and building the future of the Philippines,' Ver underscored. 'Make your voice heard' Meanwhile, in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Philippine consul-general Marford M. Angeles, said: "Only a handful of overseas voters, which includes two senior citizens, came to the Consulate today to seek assistance in online voting while majority of voters voted online in the comfort of their homes. 'Compared to our previous elections, we can say we had a good turnout as more people were able to vote compared to if they came to the Consulate in person and queued under this hot weather. The online voting mode is making good with its promise of an easier and more convenient way to vote for our overseas voters,' he added. Angeles said enrollment turnout 'is about 5 per cent of our total 123,891 registered voters in Dubai and Northern Emirates. We are hoping that we get a higher turnout in the coming days, leading to the enrollment deadline of May 7, as only those pre-enrolled can cast their votes until May 12." 'Each vote is a step closer towards realising what we envision our country's future should be. As an overseas voter, this is your chance to make your voice heard, and we encourage you to make sure it is heard loud and clear,' Angeles reiterated, adding: 'We ask everyone to spread the word so we can continue the upward trend of voter turnout for the next 29 days.' The official election day in the Philippines is May 12, 2025, but for overseas Filipinos, including those in the UAE — online voting will run for 30 days from April 13 to May 12. They will elect 12 senators and a party-list representative.
Gulf Today
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Filipinos in UAE to vote online as polls open today
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver has repeated his call for the 189,892 registered Filipino voters across the seven emirates, to enrol over the Philippines' Commission on Elections (Comelec) overseas voting portal so their favoured senatorial and party-list representative candidates, have the chance to be part of the national legislative bodies for the crafting and enactment of laws towards nationhood, beginning July 2025. Ver made the reiteration on Saturday morning when he oversaw the Final Lockdown and Sealing (FLS) of the landmark Comelec Online Overseas Voting and Overseas Counting System (OV/OCS), the Comelec-designated Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) at the Philippine Embassy-Abu Dhabi, conducted. 'We are not campaigning for any candidate. We are campaigning for your active participation at this online voting, the first in the history of Philippine Elections, with 189,892 Filipinos in the UAE, the largest out of the 1,241,690 registered voters worldwide,' said Ver, viewed by followers of the Philippine Embassy-Abu Dhabi Facebook Page. The top diplomat made the appeal as he mentioned as well that of the 1,241,690, only 48,000 had registered, since the voting enrolment portal was also opened for the test vote on March 20. He cited the GMA-7 Online news that quoted on Friday, Comelec chairman George Garcia from Manila, adding that of the 48,000, 15 per cent or 7,200 were from the UAE. For the Doubting Thomases on the authenticity and security features of the OV -- a project of the Comelec with the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Ver said, 'Let us all enrol and make our voices count. Let us put our faith and trust in our country's electoral process which made possible so that Filipinos from all over the world have the chance to be heard.' On Friday afternoon and over at the Philippine Consulate General, responsible for the 123,891 certified Filipino voters in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, Consul General Marford Angeles said, 'Let us enrol until May 7. Let us cast our vote beginning April 13. Filipinos are known to spend time with their mobile phones and devices, please take this opportunity given us to cast our vote easily.' According to the 'Digital 2025: Nearly Two-Thirds of Southeast Asia's Population Are on Social Media,' published in the tnglobal website, 'Filipinos spend an average of eight hours and 52 minutes a day on the Internet – maintaining its rank as being significantly ahead of the global average of six hours and 38 minutes. Most of this time on the Internet is spent on their mobile phones at five hours 21 minutes, which is also significantly ahead of the global average of three hours and 46 minutes.' The consular mission in Dubai has its own set of Comelec-designated SBEIs which completed the FLS on Friday. They received from the Comelec-designated Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group, a Comelec-issued two dashboard/administration laptops and printer, and voting kiosk (also a laptop for onsite voting when registered voters encounter enrolment and casting issues; also for the illiterate, senior citizens, people of determination and the pregnant). Led by Ver, the Comelec-designated DFA personnel in the UAE participated at the 14-country Middle East and Africa Feb.24 to 26 OV/OCS training in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The FLS was conducted on or before April 12 in all the 77 Comelec-designated OV diplomatic and consular posts worldwide to make sure that the OCS is empty before April 13. Test votes have been encouraged even in the first manual overseas absentee voting in 2003. The activity has been part and parcel of the ecosystem to preserve the sanctity of the ballot. From the March 20 Philippine Embassy-Abu Dhabi/Philippine Consulate General-Dubai Joint Online Voting Community Briefing, Comelec-Online Voting director Atty Ian Michael Geonaga pointed out that all votes cast are 'encrypted and these are only seen by the voter himself.' Geonaga however cautioned that even as OV is adopted, any form of electioneering or coercion done on anyone in the act of casting a vote is still punishable by law: 'Still, be vigilant and please report any to us.' From the hybrid community briefing, Geonaga mentioned that he saw the necessity to go online voting when he visited the UAE during the 2022 presidential elections and saw the crowd of voters at the Philippine Embassy and Philippine Consulate General.
