Trump Pardons BitMEX Founders — Is ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Roger Ver Next?
In a move that has shaken the crypto world, former President Donald Trump has issued full pardons to the founders of BitMEX — Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed — along with former executive Gregory Dwyer and the exchange’s parent company.
The surprise announcement has reignited a fiery debate within the crypto community: if the BitMEX founders can be pardoned, could Roger Ver — the man once dubbed “Bitcoin Jesus” — be next in line for presidential mercy?
The BitMEX Pardon
The BitMEX case was one of the most high-profile legal battles in crypto history. The founders were charged in 2020 for failing to implement proper anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) protocols, violating the Bank Secrecy Act. They eventually pleaded guilty in 2022, admitting that the exchange operated without proper compliance from 2015 to 2020.
Despite their guilty pleas, Trump’s pardon wipes the slate clean, absolving them of any remaining legal penalties. Supporters have hailed the move as a step toward innovation-friendly regulation, while critics argue it sends a dangerous message — that crypto billionaires are above the law.
Enter Roger Ver
With the ink barely dry on the BitMEX pardons, attention quickly shifted to another controversial figure: Roger Ver.
An early investor in Bitcoin startups and a relentless evangelist for cryptocurrency adoption, Ver earned the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus” for his tireless advocacy. But his current situation is far from divine.
Ver was indicted in 2024 on charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. The U.S. government claims he underreported income from a $240 million crypto sale and filed a false “exit tax” return after renouncing his American citizenship in 2014. He was arrested in Spain and is now fighting extradition to the United States.
A Divisive Figure
To some, Ver is a crypto pioneer — a man who put his money where his mouth was long before Bitcoin was cool. To others, he’s a controversial character whose ideological war with Bitcoin’s core developers led to the birth of Bitcoin Cash, a rival chain that still sparks tribal battles across Reddit threads.
His legal team has already pushed back, filing motions to dismiss the case and accusing the government of political targeting. Ver himself has suggested the charges are less about tax compliance and more about silencing a vocal critic of U.S. financial policy.
Could He Be Pardoned Too?
Trump’s pardon list wasn’t limited to crypto figures. It also included Trevor Milton, the disgraced founder of Nikola Motors, and Carlos Watson, the media executive behind Ozy. These high-profile clemencies have led some to speculate that Trump is positioning himself as a friend to entrepreneurs — even the fallen ones.
If Ver’s case drags on and he’s eventually convicted, a future pardon isn’t out of the question. Especially if Trump returns to the White House and continues his pattern of granting high-stakes clemency to tech-world rulebreakers.
What Comes Next?
Whether you view it as justice or a joke, the BitMEX pardon has set a precedent. Roger Ver’s legal fate now hangs in the balance — not just in courtrooms, but possibly in the realm of politics.
For the crypto world, it’s another reminder that regulation and rebellion are forever entangled. And in the United States, no matter how deep the blockchain goes, some fates may still be decided with the stroke of a pen.
