Ethereum Foundation Pledges Major Support for Tornado Cash Co-Founder's Legal Defense

The Ethereum Foundation has pledged substantial financial support for Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, to aid his legal defense against charges of money laundering and sanctions violations. This commitment, including a direct donation and a matching fund, underscores a broader debate within the crypto community regarding developer liability and digital privacy.

Ethereum Foundation Backs Storm's Defense

The Ethereum Foundation announced a significant financial commitment to Roman Storm's legal defense. This includes an initial donation of $500,000 and a pledge to match an additional $750,000 in public contributions. This move highlights the foundation's stance that "privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime."

Key Takeaways

• The Ethereum Foundation has committed up to $1.25 million to Roman Storm's legal defense.

• Storm faces charges of conspiring to launder over $1 billion in cryptocurrency, including funds linked to North Korea's Lazarus Group.

• His trial is scheduled to begin on July 14, 2025, in New York.

• The case has become a focal point in discussions about developer responsibility and financial privacy in decentralized finance.

• Other organizations, including Coin Center and the DeFi Education Fund, have filed amicus briefs in support of Storm.

Broader Implications for DeFi and Open-Source Development

Storm's case is seen as a critical test for the future of decentralized finance (DeFi) and open-source software development. Prosecutors allege that Tornado Cash facilitated illicit transactions, while Storm's defense argues that the platform's smart contracts are autonomous and open-source, limiting developer control. Storm himself stated on X, "If I lose, DeFi dies with me," emphasizing the perceived stakes for the industry.

Parallel Cases and Community Support

This support for Storm follows a similar pledge by the Ethereum Foundation for Alexey Pertsev, another Tornado Cash developer convicted of money laundering in the Netherlands. Pertsev's case also drew a $1.25 million grant from the foundation, reinforcing the message that writing code should not be criminalized. The broader crypto community, including venture firms like Paradigm and prominent figures such as Vitalik Buterin, has also contributed to the legal funds for both developers, demonstrating widespread concern over the legal precedents being set.

Sources

• Ethereum Foundation pledges $1M to Storm’s defense, entities boost Pertsev appeal, CryptoSlate.

• Ethereum Foundation Offers $750K Match For Tornado Cash Defense, FinanceFeeds.

• Ethereum Foundation Pledges $500K To Roman Storm’s Defense, Cointelegraph.

• Ethereum Foundation donates $500,000 to Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm's defense ahead of July trial |The Block, The Block.

• Ethereum Foundation Donates $500K to Tornado Cash Founder’s Legal Defense, CoinCentral.