Ethereum Foundation Supports Roman Storm with $50K for Legal Defense
The Ethereum Foundation has stepped up to support Roman Storm, the co-founder of Tornado Cash, with a $500,000 donation. This financial aid is crucial as Storm prepares for his July 14 trial in New York.He faces serious charges, including operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, money laundering, and violating US sanctions.
The Ethereum Foundation has pledged $500,000 to Roman Storm’s legal defense. Storm, a co-founder of Tornado Cash, faces a July 14 trial in New York. If convicted, he could spend up to 45 years in prison. The foundation believes “privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime.” They will also match community donations up to $750,000.
Storm thanked the foundation on X, calling it a “major show of solidarity.”
Storm’s case follows a similar one involving his co-founder, Alexey Pertsev. Pertsev was convicted in May 2024 and sentenced to 64 months in prison. The foundation’s donation comes after a $1 million contribution to Pertsev’s legal defense in February.
Other industry leaders, like Vitalik Buterin and Matt Huang, have also contributed to the ‘Free Pertsev & Storm’ campaign. Prosecutors claim Tornado Cash was used by sanctioned entities, like North Korea’s Lazarus Group, for illicit transactions. The legal team’s efforts to dismiss the charges have not succeeded so far.
The third co-founder, Roman Semenov, remains at large. The foundation’s support highlights the ongoing battle for privacy rights in the crypto world. The case underscores the tension between privacy and regulatory compliance in the crypto space.
Storm’s trial will test the boundaries of privacy and coding rights in the crypto industry. The outcome could set a precedent for future cases.
