Ethereum Foundation backs Tornado Cash developer with $1.25 million legal aid

The Ethereum Foundation has stepped in to support Alexey Pertsev, a developer behind Tornado Cash, by donating $1.25 million toward his legal defense.

Announcing the donation on Feb. 26, the Foundation emphasized the importance of privacy and the rights of developers, saying:

“Privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime.”

Pertsev expressed his gratitude for the contribution, stating that the funds would allow him to focus on his appeal fully. He wrote:

“Thank you Ethereum Foundation for making a huge donation to my legal defense for the case in the Netherlands. I’m very grateful that I can now completely focus on preparing my appeal.”

Meanwhile, the donation has sparked a wave of support across the crypto industry. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and other key figures have stressed the significance of protecting developers from legal consequences simply for writing open-source code.

Privacy-focused crypto exchange 0x0 reinforced this stance, stating:

“Privacy is a fundamental right, and developers shouldn’t be punished for writing open-source code. This is a crucial moment for the future of crypto privacy.”

Pertsev’s legal battle

Pertsev’s legal battle began in 2022 following US sanctions against crypto mixer Tornado Cash, a platform he co-founded alongside Roman Semenov and Roman Storm.

Dutch authorities arrested Pertsev on allegations that he facilitated money laundering by failing to prevent illicit transactions. In May 2024, a Dutch court ruled that his involvement in Tornado Cash contributed to criminal financial activity, sentencing him to five years in prison.

Earlier this month, Pertsev was temporarily released from detention, and he highlighted the financial burden of his case and efforts to appeal the ruling. He said:

“Freedom is priceless, but my freedom cost a lot of money. My house arrest was only possible thanks to the work of lawyers, who were paid from your donations.”

Meanwhile, his co-founders are also facing legal scrutiny in the United States. However, in a recent development, a US court overturned Treasury sanctions on Tornado Cash, ruling that targeting immutable smart contracts exceeded regulatory authority.

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