" Ver gained recognition for his early investment in the digital currency, which resulted in significant financial gains. However, the DOJ alleges that Ver evaded taxes amounting to at least $48 million.

According to the indictment announced on Tuesday, Ver failed to report a portion of the 131,000 bitcoins that he owned back in 2014 when he renounced his U.S. citizenship and became a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean nation. At that time, each bitcoin was valued at around $871, whereas currently, one bitcoin is trading at $57,416, making Ver's bitcoins worth over $7.5 billion.

The indictment asserts that Ver engaged in a fraudulent scheme by purposely underreporting his bitcoin holdings on his tax filings, even after his move from the United States. As an expatriate, Ver was still obligated to pay U.S. taxes on his bitcoin assets.

Ver was apprehended in Spain over the weekend and is now facing extradition to the United States to stand trial on a range of charges, including tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing false tax returns. Bryan Skarlatos, Ver's lawyer, expressed disappointment and surprise regarding his client's arrest, stating that Ver had relied on tax professionals and had always intended to comply fully with his tax obligations.

If convicted, Ver could face a return to federal prison, where he previously spent 10 months in 2002 after pleading guilty to selling explosives on eBay under the name "Pest Control Report 2000."

The government's increased scrutiny of financial crimes associated with bitcoin comes as the digital currency has gained popularity and mainstream attention over the past decade. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been actively working to track bitcoin investors using more advanced methods, such as "clustering analysis," which allows them to trace bitcoin transactions via the blockchain.

Ver emerged as a prominent figure in the bitcoin community when he earned his first million from the digital currency in 2011. As he continued to invest in bitcoin and advocate for its usage, some individuals within the community likened him to a Christ-like figure. According to Ver, the nickname "Bitcoin Jesus" was bestowed upon him by Peter Vessenes, the founder of the Bitcoin Foundation, after witnessing Ver passionately explain bitcoin to high school students.

As the case against Ver unfolds, his reputation as a prominent bitcoin investor remains under scrutiny. The trial will serve as a crucial moment in determining Ver's innocence or guilt in the alleged tax fraud, which further highlights the growing attention paid by authorities to potential financial crimes associated with digital currencies like bitcoin.