Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum co-founder, donated 30 ETH (around $113,000) on May 8 to support the legal defense of Tornado Cash developers Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm, accused of money laundering. This donation was made to the Juicebox campaign ‘Free Alexey & Roman.’
Buterin has been vocal about his disappointment with Pertsev’s 64-month prison sentence, deeming it “really unfortunate.” He argues that developing privacy software should be legal and legitimate. The Dutch court’s ruling against Pertsev contrasts this view, finding him guilty of money laundering. The case could set a precedent for Storm, who faces similar charges in the U.S.
Tornado Cash and other crypto mixers have faced scrutiny for potential misuse by criminals. Despite this, Buterin remains hopeful for “positive clarity” in Storm’s trial. He champions privacy for everyone, not just criminals, and supports tools like Railgun and 0xbow.
Edward Snowden also supports the legal defense for Tornado Cash, calling the case “deeply illiberal and profoundly authoritarian.” He echoes Buterin’s sentiment that “privacy is not a crime.”
The Free Alexey & Roman campaign has raised 559.81 ETH, about $2 million. The case’s outcome could significantly impact the future of privacy-focused cryptocurrency development.
