Vitalik Buterin condemns criminalization of code in appeal for Tornado Cash developer
Vitalik Buterin supported Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, arguing against the criminalization of privacy-enhancing code.Summary
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published a letter supporting Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, who faces sentencing after being convicted of a money-transmitting conspiracy charge. Buterin framed the prosecution as targeting software development rather than direct financial harm, emphasizing the necessity of privacy tools like Tornado Cash against systemic data exploitation. He praised Storm's work as honorable and functional, contrasting it with less reliable 'consumer tech.' Buterin has actively supported Storm, contributing 50 ETH to his legal defense fund, mirroring broader industry support, including significant donations from the Ethereum Foundation and other entities. This case occurs amid increasing legal pressure on privacy tool developers, such as Tornado Cash co-creator Alexey Pertsev and Samourai Wallet founders, who have received prison sentences.
(Source：The Block)