Ethereum (ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin has made a generous donation of 100 Ether, valued at approximately $240,000, to support Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s legal defense fund. This marks the third time Buterin has contributed to this cause, showing his consistent support for the crypto community.
The crowdsourcing page for Defend Roman Storm has received 148 different payments for the developer’s defense fund, totaling over 327 ETH, worth around $785,000 at the current time. Storm expressed his gratitude to Buterin for the contribution, stating, “I can’t describe how much it means to me. Thank you for your long-term support.”
In a recent court ruling on September 26, 2024, American judge Katherine Failla denied Storm’s motion to dismiss, allowing the case against him to continue. Failla emphasized that the charges were not baseless and rejected Storm’s claim that he was being prosecuted solely for writing code. Storm faces serious consequences if convicted, with a possible 45-year prison sentence.
Despite facing legal challenges and sanctions, deposits into the Tornado Cash mixer have reached approximately $1.9 billion in the first half of 2024. This surge in deposits indicates a 50% increase compared to the previous year, despite efforts to restrict the platform’s operations. Sanctions have proven ineffective due to the pseudonymous nature of wallet addresses used on the platform.
The crypto community has rallied around Tornado Cash developers, with initiatives like JusticeDAO raising funds to support legal defense efforts. The support from figures like Vitalik Buterin underscores the importance of standing together to protect innovation and developers in the crypto space.
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