- Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin continues to extend support to Tornado Cash developers.
- Buterin has criticized the crackdown on the crypto mixer.
- One of Tornado Cash’s developers is currently serving jail time.
The developers of the infamous crypto mixer Tornado Cash have been locked in a tense standoff with authorities for years, centered around allegations of facilitating illegal financial activities. Efforts to bring the legal battle to an end have hit multiple deadlocks, leading to the imprisonment of one while another remains entangled in a drawn-out legal tussle.
However, industry support for the mixer’s creators remains strong despite the weight of their charges.
Vitalik Lends More Support to Tornado Cash Developer
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again stepped up to financially support Tornado Cash co-developer Roman Storm’s legal defense fund. On October 4, 2024, the ‘Free Pertsev & Storm’ crowdfunding page announced that Buterin donated 100 ETH worth approximately $240,000 at current prices.
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The donation marks Buterin’s third contribution to Storm’s defense fund, having previously donated 30 ETH earlier in March. Renowned for his strong privacy advocacy, Buterin has consistently criticized the legal actions against Tornado Cash’s founders, describing them as an attack on industry privacy.
Commenting on the donation, Storm expressed deep gratitude for the Ethereum co-founder’s generosity.
“I can't describe how much it means to me. Thank you for your long lasting support,” he stated .Roman Storm’s support fund has accumulated 327 ETH so far, valued at approximately $785,000. It was likely largely boosted by his partner’s recent sentencing.
Tornado Cash Co-Founder Behind Bars
In August 2024, a Dutch court found Alexey Pertsev, the co-founder of the crypto mixing tool, guilty of facilitating money laundering, handing him a 64-month prison sentence .
The sentencing marked the culmination of the years-long legal process, with the court ruling that Pertsev’s failure to implement measures to prevent misuse of the protocol, despite being aware of its exploitation by criminals, made him liable for the abuse.
However, the convicted co-founder has initiated efforts to overturn his fate. Shortly after his sentencing, the support account for Pertsev appealed for donations, emphasizing the urgent need for approximately $750,000 to $1 million in legal fees to bolster his appeal.
Buterin has also condemned Pertsev’s five-year sentence as unfortunate, stating, “It’s definitely really, really sad, and I hope that with Roman’s trial in the U.S., we get some positive clarity there.”
On the Flipside
- Roman Storm recently filed a motion to postpone his trial to January or February 2025.
- Crypto exchange OKX has threatened account liquidation for users interacting with Tornado Cash.
- The legal actions against Tornado Cash have also extended to other crypto mixers. In April 2024, The DoJ arrested Samurai Wallet Founders on similar charges of money laundering and US laws violations.
Why This Matters
Vitalik Buterin’s ongoing support for Tornado Cash offers significant backing to the embattled developers, and his latest contribution provides a major financial boost for their ongoing legal battle.
Read this article to learn about the continued use of Tornado Cash by malicious actors despite the ongoing legal troubles:
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