The Next Ross Ulbricht? Libertarians Rally Behind Roger Ver to Influence 2026 Midterms
As the 2026 midterms approach, a growing libertarian groundswell is emerging around a new cause célèbre — and his name is Roger Ver.
Known as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early advocacy of cryptocurrency and voluntaryist ideals, Ver is now being cast as the next Ross Ulbricht, the imprisoned Silk Road founder whose cause galvanized a generation of digital freedom advocates. Ver’s recent arrest in Spain and potential extradition to the U.S. on charges of tax evasion, mail fraud, and filing false returns has ignited fury among libertarians, who believe he is being politically persecuted.
A Libertarian Lightning Rod
“The Libertarian Party remains dedicated to fighting for justice & individual liberty, including advocating for the release of political prisoner Roger Ver,” the party posted Friday. In a follow-up message, they stated:
“Roger Ver is facing life in prison for revealing how the US government worked secretly to subvert cryptocurrency and prevent economic freedom.”
Ver faces up to 109 years in prison, and his defenders insist that the case has little to do with tax law — and everything to do with suppressing dissent against a centrally controlled financial system.
The case stems from Ver’s 2014 Bitcoin transactions, conducted while he lived outside the U.S. as a non-citizen. Ver claims he attempted to resolve tax obligations in good faith and argues that the IRS is now retroactively applying newly interpreted laws to punish him politically.
“I’ve always known I’d be targeted for spreading cryptocurrency and voluntaryist ideals,” Ver wrote earlier this year. “This isn’t about taxes.”
Echoes of the Ulbricht Case
Libertarians see a clear parallel with Ross Ulbricht — another young innovator punished, they say, not for criminal acts but for threatening government control. Trump’s 2024 pledge to free Ulbricht won him massive goodwill from libertarian-leaning voters, many of whom now say Ver represents the next crucial test.
Ulbricht himself weighed in:
“Roger Ver was there for me when I needed help. Now Roger needs our support. No one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes. Let him pay the tax (if any) and be done with it.”
The idea is gaining traction. Libertarian activist and 2020 vice presidential nominee Spike Cohen tweeted:
“A good way for @realDonaldTrump to show that he’s serious about ending the government’s war on Bitcoin is to free @rogerkver.”
A Brewing Political Flashpoint
The Department of Justice under Biden initiated the prosecution, but in April 2025, Trump’s Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a pivotal memo — “Ending Regulation By Prosecution.” The memo directly criticized Biden’s DOJ for its aggressive crypto stance and reaffirmed the administration’s position that “the DOJ is not a digital assets regulator.”
This aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to “end Joe Biden’s war on crypto” — a stance that continues to resonate with younger, tech-savvy, and liberty-minded voters.
As the midterms approach, libertarians are making it clear: they want action. Dropping the case against Roger Ver could energize their base and tip key battleground races.
The message from the liberty movement is clear:
Free Roger Ver — or lose our vote.