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Vitalik Buterin Defends Tornado Cash Dev Facing 5 Years: ‘Don’t Criminalize Code’

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly stepped in to defend Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, as Storm faces the potential of as much as 5 years in jail.

This follows a combined verdict in a carefully watched U.S. prison case that many within the crypto business see as a take a look at of whether or not writing open-source code might be handled as against the law.

Storm, a co-founder of the privateness protocol Tornado Cash, renewed requires public assist this week, saying prosecutors had framed software program growth as prison conduct.

Vitalik Says Tornado Cash Case Threatens Privacy and Digital Rights

In a submit on X, Storm said the case had reached a key second, warning that equating privateness instruments with cash laundering may reshape the way forward for open-source software program.

He urged the crypto group to submit letters of assist, describing public voices as one of many few instruments left as his authorized combat continues.

Buterin responded with a prolonged letter backing Storm, framing the case as a broader battle over privateness, private security, and digital rights.

He stated he has supported Storm’s work from the start and has personally used privateness instruments developed by Storm for authentic functions, together with software program purchases and charitable donations.

Buterin argued that privateness is just not a fringe concept however a primary safety that existed by default a long time in the past, earlier than fixed digital surveillance grew to become regular.

He rejected the concept that governments ought to have unrestricted entry to private monetary knowledge, pointing to repeated knowledge breaches, knowledge brokerage practices, and outsourcing of delicate data to personal firms.

Buterin described Storm as a principled developer targeted on high quality and long-term usability slightly than revenue or publicity, noting that Tornado Cash instruments remained practical even years after Storm stopped actively sustaining them.

He stated that truth alone distinguished the work from a lot of recent client know-how and displaying why he believes Storm shouldn’t be punished for constructing impartial software program.

Storm Convicted on One Count as Major Charges Remain Unresolved

The authorized stakes are high, as Storm was arrested in August 2023 and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, working an unlicensed cash transmitting enterprise, and violating U.S. sanctions.

After a federal trial in August 2025, a jury returned a partial verdict, convicting Storm on the unlicensed money transmission charge, which carries a most sentence of 5 years, whereas failing to succeed in a verdict on the cash laundering and sanctions fees.

Those counts stay unresolved, leaving Storm uncovered to the potential of a retrial and much steeper penalties.

Storm stays free on bail whereas post-trial motions are pending.

His authorized group has requested the court docket to acquit him, arguing that Tornado Cash is a non-custodial, immutable protocol and that writing open-source code doesn’t quantity to working a cash service.

Prosecutors have opposed that movement and have not yet said whether or not they are going to retry the deadlocked fees in 2026.

Support for Storm has grown throughout the crypto and tech sectors.

Developers, authorized consultants, and advocacy teams argue that the case conflicts with long-standing FinCEN steerage stating that non-custodial software program builders should not cash transmitters.

More than 65 organizations have urged President Donald Trump to intervene, calling the prosecution an instance of “regulation by prosecution” that dangers pushing innovation offshore.

Industry teams have additionally pointed to latest DOJ statements acknowledging that builders with out in poor health intent shouldn’t face prison fees merely for publishing code.

The Tornado Cash sanctions themselves were lifted in 2025 after a federal appeals court docket dominated that the Treasury Department overstepped its authority by sanctioning immutable sensible contracts.

That ruling has turn out to be a central reference level in Storm’s protection, at the same time as prosecutors argue it doesn’t apply to his charged conduct.

The submit Vitalik Buterin Defends Tornado Cash Dev Facing 5 Years: ‘Don’t Criminalize Code’ appeared first on Cryptonews.

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