- The Ethereum Foundation prioritizes privacy issues in the crypto space.
- Vitalik Buterin personally donated to the legal fund.
- Community donations could potentially total $1.25 million.
Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, is receiving $500,000 from the Ethereum Foundation for legal defense against charges brought in the United States, announced recently through an official statement.
The Ethereum Foundation’s move underlines its stance on privacy and code rights, sparking discussion on the implications for privacy-focused technology in the crypto sector.
Support for Roman Storm
The Ethereum Foundation’s donation of $500,000 comes as Roman Storm faces serious charges, including money laundering and violation of sanctions. They pledged to match community donations up to $750,000, potentially contributing to a total of $1.25 million. Storm’s prosecution draws significant attention, with key crypto figures such as Vitalik Buterin contributing 50 ETH to his defense. As he mentioned:
I support privacy and developer rights, which is why I contributed 50 ETH to the defense.
The Ethereum Foundation emphasized “Privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime.” The broader crypto community, including advocacy organizations, has filed legal briefs supporting Storm. This raises implications for the future of privacy-preserving technologies and their legal standing. The charges against Storm and the Ethereum Foundation’s actions could influence regulatory approaches to open-source privacy tools. The case is pivotal in determining the legal boundaries of blockchain development. The community’s reaction underscores the ongoing tension between innovation in privacy tech and regulatory scrutiny. Storm’s case could set precedents impacting future interactions between regulators and blockchain advocates.
