According to online reports, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin issued a post saying,"It is ridiculous to be sentenced to life in prison for a non-violent tax crime. The case against "Bitcoin Jesus" Roger Ver appears to be highly politically motivated; like Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Dark Web Silk Road, many people and companies have been charged with more serious crimes but face a much lighter sentence than the one Roger faced. If the IRS did threaten Roger's lawyers to obtain confidential information, it would be malicious; lawyers 'right to confidential consultation must be sacrosanct. Real bona fide mistakes should be corrected by giving the parties the opportunity to pay taxes, including interest and fines, rather than by prosecuting."