Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has joined the campaign to free early crypto investor and entrepreneur Roger Ver, who is facing a legal battle with the DOJ over tax evasion and is currently facing extradition to the U.S.

According to Buterin (and Ross Ulbricht), the charges are politically motivated.

"Going to prison for the rest of your life over non-violent tax offenses is absurd. The case against Roger seems very politically motivated," Vitalik wrote.

Roger Ver is currently in Spain, facing extradition to the US.

Ver was arrested in Spain last April, as prosecutors alleged Ver hid 131,000 BTC, worth around $420 million at the time in 2017.

According to the IRS, and the DOJ, he owes $48 million.

A bit of background about Ver, just to refresh everyone's memory.

Ver was born in the U.S. but renounced U.S. citizenship in 2014.

He's been a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis since 2014 and of Antigua and Barbuda since 2020.

This is one of the main reasons why extradition is complicated. Because the U.S. wants to extradite Ver, who is technically no longer a U.S. citizen.