Ethereum Foundation’s Generosity: A $500K Defense for a Crypto Crusader!

Ah, the Ethereum Foundation, that noble bastion of digital virtue, has decided to part with a staggering sum of $500,000 to aid the beleaguered Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash. This man, a mere mortal caught in the tempest of legal woes, stands accused of the most heinous crime imaginable: running a crypto mixing service without the proper licenses. How dare he! 😱

In a rather audacious post on X, the foundation proclaimed its benevolence, promising not only the initial donation but also a matching contribution of up to $750,000 from the crypto community. Because, you know, nothing says “we support you” quite like a financial pledge in the face of impending doom. 💸

As fate would have it, Storm is set to face the music in New York, where charges of money laundering and conspiracy loom over him like a dark cloud. The trial is expected to commence in a mere month, a countdown that must feel like an eternity for our hero. ⏳

“Privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime,” the foundation boldly declared, as if to suggest that the mere act of coding is akin to a sacred rite. One can only imagine the fervor with which they defend this principle, as if it were a matter of life and death. 🛡️

Storm’s trial arrives at a time when US authorities seem to be recalibrating their approach to the wild west of digital assets. The Tornado Cash developer’s legal team, in a fit of desperation, requested the case be dismissed last December, arguing that the US Treasury had overstepped its bounds. Alas, the trial is still on track to begin on July 14, a date that must haunt Storm’s dreams. 😨

“In 31 days, I face trial,” Storm lamented in his X post, a cry of despair echoing through the digital ether. “The DOJ wants to bury DeFi, saying I should’ve controlled it, added KYC, never built it. SDNY is trying to crush me, blocking every expert witness. If I lose, DeFi dies with me.” Such is the weight of the world on his shoulders! 🌍

Meanwhile, Roman Semenov, another developer entangled in this web of legal intrigue, remains elusive, rumored to be hiding in the vast expanse of Russia. One can only wonder if he’s sipping vodka while contemplating his next move. 🍸

And let us not forget Alexey Pertsev, the third musketeer of Tornado Cash, who found himself in the clutches of the law in the Netherlands back in 2022. After being found guilty of money laundering, he now faces a prison sentence longer than most soap operas. 📺

The Ethereum Foundation, in a fit of solidarity, has also pledged $1.25 million to Pertsev’s defense fund, citing the same lofty ideals of privacy and code. Truly, they are the knights in shining armor of the crypto realm! ⚔️

Support for Storm from digital asset advocacy groups

As the drama unfolds, Storm and his fellow developers have garnered support from various advocacy organizations and prominent figures in the crypto industry. They are calling for the charges to be dropped, as if their voices could sway the gavel of justice. 🗣️

Lawyers from the Coin Center, DeFi Education Fund, and Blockchain Association have filed amicus briefs, warning of the dire consequences should Storm be convicted. Even Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Paradigm founder Matt Huang have thrown their hats into the ring, contributing to the legal funds of the Tornado Cash co-founders. It’s a veritable soap opera of epic proportions! 🎭

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2025-06-13 22:52