Vitalik Buterin Donates 100 ETH to Roman Storm’s Defense Fund Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has made another significant contribution to Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s legal defense fund, donating 100 Ether (ETH), valued at approximately $240,000. This marks Buterin’s third donation in support of Storm, as the embattled developer faces serious legal challenges following the U.S. government’s crackdown on Tornado Cash.

Background on the Tornado Cash Sanctions

In 2022, the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Tornado Cash, a popular cryptocurrency mixer, accusing it of facilitating money laundering. The sanctions claimed that the service was used by bad actors to obscure the origins of illicitly obtained funds.

Roman Storm, one of Tornado Cash's key developers, has become a focal point of the legal aftermath, with many in the crypto community rallying to his defense.

Buterin’s Continued Support for Storm

According to the “Defend Roman Storm” crowdsourcing page, 148 separate contributions have been made to the legal fund, raising over 327 ETH (approximately $785,000 at the time of writing). Buterin’s recent donation has garnered significant attention, reinforcing his ongoing commitment to the cause.

"I can’t describe how much it means to me. Thank you for your long-lasting support," Roman Storm said in a message directed at Buterin after receiving the contribution.

Legal Proceedings to Continue

On September 26, 2024, U.S. Judge Katherine Failla rejected Storm’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing the trial to proceed. Failla stated that the charges brought against Storm were substantial, dismissing claims that he was being prosecuted solely for writing code.

Storm has pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintaining that Tornado Cash is open-source software available for anyone to use, with no direct control by its developers. If convicted, Storm could face up to 45 years in prison, a potential outcome that has galvanized the crypto community to offer overwhelming support.

Crowdsourcing Efforts and JusticeDAO

In June 2024, the formation of JusticeDAO, a decentralized organization, was announced to help fund the legal defense of Tornado Cash developers. To date, JusticeDAO has raised over 654 ETH, worth more than $1.5 million, further highlighting the widespread concern and backing Storm and his fellow developers are receiving.

Tornado Cash’s Continued Use Despite Sanctions

Despite OFAC’s sanctions, Tornado Cash continues to see significant use. In the first half of 2024 alone, the service recorded approximately $1.9 billion in deposits—a, a 50% increase compared to the entire previous year. The sanctions have mainly affected users attempting to route funds through OFAC-compliant centralized exchanges that enforce know-your-customer (KYC) policies and target specific wallet addresses. However, since Tornado Cash allows users to create pseudonymous wallets on demand, the platform remains popular for those seeking financial privacy.