Ethereum Co-founder Donates to Jailed Tornado Cash Developer

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has donated a significant sum of Ethereum (ETH) to Alexey Pertsev, a developer of the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash. According to Etherscan data reported by crypto journalist Colin Wu, Buterin donated a total of 100 ETH to Pertsev on two separate occasions, amounting to approximately $340,000 at the time of the donations.   

These donations were made through Juicebox, a platform used to fund public goods, with the specific goal of assisting Pertsev with his ongoing legal fees. Pertsev is currently serving a five-year and four-month prison sentence in the Netherlands for his alleged role in laundering billions of dollars through Tornado Cash.   

Background:

• Tornado Cash: This cryptocurrency mixer was designed to enhance the privacy of cryptocurrency transactions by obfuscating the origin and destination of funds.   
• US Sanctions: In 2022, the US government sanctioned Tornado Cash, citing national security concerns. This ban was later overturned by a US appeals court in November 2024, which ruled that the Treasury Department overstepped its authority by sanctioning a piece of software. The court emphasized that smart contracts do not qualify as "property" under the applicable law.   
• Dutch Conviction: Despite the US court ruling, Pertsev was convicted in the Netherlands for his involvement with Tornado Cash.

Buterin's Support:

Buterin's substantial donations to Pertsev's legal defense fund have garnered significant attention within the cryptocurrency community. This act of support underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of cryptocurrencies and the balance between privacy and national security.

January 2025, Cryptoniteuae