Ethereum Foundation Throws $500K Lifeline to Tornado Cash Co-Founder Roman Storm Amid Legal Firestorm

Storm's Trial Looms as Crypto Community Rallies Behind Him

Holy smokes, the drama just keeps on coming for Roman Storm, the embattled co-founder of the notorious privacy mixer Tornado Cash! Just when you thought things couldn't get any wilder, the Ethereum Foundation swoops in like a superhero, dropping a cool half a million bucks to help Storm fight the legal battles ahead. Talk about a plot twist!

Get this: the Ethereum Foundation isn't messing around. They've announced they're donating $500,000 to Storm's legal defense fund as he gears up for his nail-biting trial on July 14 in the Big Apple. The man's facing some serious heat, with charges of running an unlicensed money-transmitting business, money laundering, and even breaking US sanctions. The stakes couldn't be higher, folks!

But why's the Ethereum Foundation putting their money where their mouth is? They're standing tall and proud, declaring that "Privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime." Mic drop! And hold onto your hats, because they're not stopping there. They're ready to match up to another $750,000 in community donations on top of their initial pledge. It's like a crypto superhero team-up!

Storm, who could be looking at a jaw-dropping 45 years behind bars if he's convicted, is beyond grateful for the Ethereum Foundation's support. He took to social media to shout out the foundation, calling their donation a massive show of solidarity as his trial date looms large on the horizon.

"I just want to say a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to the amazing Ethereum Foundation for their incredible $500K donation to my legal defense—and for matching up to $750K from the community! 🙌 Your support means the world to me, especially standing up for privacy and the right to..."

But wait, there's more! This latest financial rescue mission comes hot on the heels of a $1 million donation back in February to Storm's fellow Tornado Cash co-founder, Alexey Pertsev. Pertsev, who was convicted in May 2024 on similar charges, got hit with a 64-month prison sentence. He's out now, but still stuck at home with an electronic monitor. Talk about a rollercoaster ride!

And let's not forget the heavy hitters in the crypto world who've also thrown their weight behind the cause. Ethereum's very own co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, along with Paradigm CEO Matt Huang and other industry bigwigs, have all chipped in to support the 'Free Pertsev & Storm' legal aid campaign. It's like a who's who of crypto legends coming together to fight the good fight!

But the prosecutors aren't backing down. They claim that Storm and his co-founders knew full well that Tornado Cash was being used by shady characters like North Korea's Lazarus Group to pull off some seriously sketchy transactions. And so far, Storm's legal team hasn't been able to shake off these charges. It's a battle royale in the courtroom!

And let's not forget the third Tornado Cash co-founder, Roman Semenov. He's also named in the DOJ's indictment, but he's still out there, dodging the authorities like a crypto Houdini ever since the initial crackdown. The saga continues, folks!