In early 2025, Florida dealmaker Matt Argall and crypto entrepreneur Brock Pierce floated a transactional plan: secure a presidential pardon for Roger Ver and collect as much as thirty million dollars if it worked. The structure was straightforward. Ver, a longtime crypto promoter known as Bitcoin Jesus, would wire ten million dollars to a trustee to start the process, then pay a twenty million dollar success fee if a pardon from President Donald Trump materialized. Communications reviewed by reporters describe a mix of warm introductions, influencer pressure, and implied proximity to decision makers that never became concrete commitments.
The episode offers a snapshot of a broader clemency marketplace. With Trump back in office, consultants and lobbyists pitch defendants on access and strategy, offering everything from a five thousand dollar finder’s fee for an introduction to seven figure packages that promise tailored messaging about prosecutorial overreach. The White House distanced itself from these efforts. Spokesman Harrison Fields said all petitions move through the Office of the Pardon Attorney and the White House counsel’s office.
Matt Argall with girlfriend Valerie Haney
(Source: Valerie Haney/TikTok)
Argall’s plan leaned on social proof. He referenced Washington lobbyist Robert Wasinger, an early senior member of Trump’s 2016 campaign who, according to people familiar with prior cases, helped GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy secure clemency during the first Trump term. Wasinger spoke with Ver in late 2024 about work on a potential pardon but was not retained. Seeking legal heft, Argall introduced Ver to attorney Jesse Binnall, known for representing Trump in election related matters. Binnall participated in a single call that outlined general pardon mechanics. His firm later said he did not negotiate fees, take on the client, or play any further role.
Pierce added crypto world profile. A former child actor and early Tether cofounder, he now chairs the Bitcoin Foundation and splits time between Washington and Puerto Rico. In January messages, he thanked Ver for his contributions and signaled support. That day, Argall posted photos of the pair on Instagram, reinforcing the impression of momentum. Argall later said he and Pierce believed Ver’s net worth could be in the ten to twenty billion dollar range, a number they used to justify the proposed success fee.
By March, the initiative had stalled. Momentum drained on every front. An email showed Ver ignoring follow up texts and calls from Argall. Ver’s attorney, David Schoen, said no one intended to pay for a pardon and argued that promoters were exaggerating their connections. Argall, in interviews, cast himself as a connector rather than a profiteer. He said that if his contacts delivered, he would accept payment or perhaps simply gain goodwill to seed a future crypto project.
The larger lesson is about execution versus optics. The official clemency process is formal and documentation heavy. In this case there was no signed retainer, no senior sponsor inside government, and no evidence that the promoters could influence the pipeline. The proposal generated headlines and screen captures, but without verified access and governance, there was no credible path to a result.
