A leading supporter of and investor in cryptocurrency and crypto-related startups, Roger Ver has earned the nickname “Bitcoin Jesus.” However, over the past few years, Ver’s opinions on and investments in cryptocurrencies have become even more polarizing, as his personal story.

What is Roger Ver Known For?

Ver states that he learned about Bitcoin in 2011, calling it “the most important invention in the history of mankind.”

He was an early adopter of the first digital currency and implemented bitcoin payments into Memorydealers.com, enabling customers to make payments in bitcoin. In the early days of bitcoin, when each coin’s value was under $1, Ver amassed more than 400,000 bitcoins.

Several popular bitcoin projects and startups were able to launch as a result of Ver’s financial support. These include Blockchain.com, Kraken, and Ripple. In 2018, Ver shifted to another cryptocurrency, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), which he argues is more true to the original bitcoin ideals. Notably, he is the CEO of Bitcoin.com, a pro-BCH media outlet with strong brand awareness and high traffic. Ver has become a polarizing figure in the crypto community largely due to his support for Bitcoin Cash, a contentious point for Bitcoin (BTC) supporters.

Why Roger Ver Was in Jail

Ver purchased 49 pounds of explosives and stashed them in a residential apartment building, selling 14 pounds worth. Legally, fireworks are classified as explosives in the US. He sold and stored

He was arrested and prosecuted in 2001 for illegally selling and storing explosives and received a ten-month sentence in federal prison.

Citizenship Issues

Another source of contention for Ver is his continuous citizenship and immigration issues. In 2006, Ver relocated to Japan.

Ver resigned his US citizenship in 2014, becoming a citizen of St. Kitts & Nevis. Ver engaged in the process as part of St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program, allowing people to become citizens by investing in real estate or the country’s Sustainable Growth Fund.

When seeking a visa to reenter the United States for a conference in 2015, Ver was denied entrance by the United States Embassy in Barbados due to worries that he would not leave at the end of his visit. Later that year, a separate US embassy confirmed his visa, and he was able to visit the country in 2016 to speak at a conference in Colorado.