Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again donated 100 ETH, or approximately $240,000, to the legal aid fund of Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev. The donation is Buterin’s third contribution to the fund, which has so far raised more than 327 ETH, or approximately $785,000 in total support.
The legal challenges faced by Storm and Pertsev stem from their roles in Tornado Cash, an open source privacy tool that has drawn scrutiny from regulators.
Blockchain previously reported that a U.S. federal judge ruled that the criminal case against Roman Storm, the main developer and co-founder of the controversial cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, will enter trial in December this year. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York ruled during a Sept. 26 telephonic hearing denying Storm's motion to dismiss the charges. If convicted, Storm could face up to 45 years in prison.
Buterin’s continued donations reflect the crypto industry’s growing concerns about regulatory action and its potential impact on developers working on privacy technologies. As the legal process unfolds, the community remains proactive in supporting Storm's case.
In addition to providing financial support, Buterin has spoken out publicly about the importance of cryptographic privacy tools and condemned the unlawful arrest of Tornado Cash developers. His advocacy underscores the commitment to protecting user privacy within the cryptocurrency space while adhering to anti-money laundering regulations.
The Tornado Cash case has captured the attention of the blockchain and open source communities and raised concerns that developers could be held accountable for misuse of their code by third parties. A Dutch court ruling found Alexey Pertsev responsible for the actions of people using Tornado Cash technology, finding Pertsev guilty of money laundering and giving him a 64-month prison sentence, fueling concerns among developers about the technology that enables anonymity. .
Buterin’s unwavering support for the developers of Tornado Cash highlights the intricate challenges faced by those working in decentralized technology. The crypto community continues to be united in its efforts to protect its members and uphold the principles of decentralization and user privacy in an evolving regulatory environment.
Roman Storm publicly expressed his gratitude after learning that Vitalik Buterin had once again donated to his legal aid fund. Storm described Buterin's donation as being very meaningful to him. "I can't put into words what this means to me. Thank you for your long-term support."
I cant describe how much it means to me. Thank you for your long lasting support https://t.co/DjqkO5u6WR
— Roman S (@rstormsf) October 5, 2024
"Tornado Cash developer may face up to 45 years in prison! Vitalik Buterin donates 100 ETH to Roman Storm Legal Aid Fund" This article was first published on (Blocker).