Ethereum Foundation Matches Donations for Roman Storm

The Ethereum Foundation has committed to matching up to $500,000 in additional donations to aid the legal defense of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm. The foundation's official account stated on X, "Privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime," reiterating the principle that software development should not be criminalized. This statement was also shared by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. Earlier this week, a jury in New York found Storm guilty of operating an unlicensed money transmitter, although they could not reach a verdict on charges related to money laundering and sanctions. Storm’s legal team is preparing to appeal this guilty verdict, as confirmed by his defense attorney Brian Klein to Business Insider. In 2023, Storm faced charges of conspiracy related to money laundering and sanctions violations linked to his operation of the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash. Prosecutors allege that Storm knowingly enabled over $1 billion in money laundering activities and facilitated transactions for the North Korean hacking group Lazarus. Storm has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. The legal aid group Free Pertsev & Storm highlights that without a successful appeal, Storm could face up to five years in prison, or even decades if the U.S. government brings further charges against him. To support their cause, Free Pertsev & Storm stated, "We will need these funds and more to continue the fight for Roman at the trial court and on appeal. The outcome of these proceedings will set major precedent for developers worldwide." Advocates for blockchain and cryptocurrency have rallied behind Storm, arguing that creating noncustodial peer-to-peer software does not equate to operating a money transmission business. The DeFi Education Fund expressed disappointment that the jury did not acknowledge that Storm could not be held accountable for actions of external parties. They firmly believe software developers should have the freedom to build decentralized financial solutions, including privacy-focused technologies. Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media organization that provides news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a major investor in The Block and invests in various crypto companies. Crypto exchange Bitget is a key limited partner of Foresight Ventures. The Block operates independently to deliver unbiased and timely information about the cryptocurrency sector.