Ethereum Foundation donates $500K to Tornado Cash co-founder’s defense ahead of trial

Roman Storm, the embattled co-founder of the privacy mixer Tornado Cash is still receiving industry support as the Ethereum Foundation steps in with fresh financial support for his upcoming hearing.

According to a recent announcement, the Ethereum Foundation is donating $500,000 to the legal defense of Roman Storm. The cash pledge comes as the Tornado Cash co-founder prepares for his July 14 trial in New York, where he faces charges of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, money laundering, and violations of US sanctions. 

Explaining the reason for its donation, the foundation stated, “Privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime,” adding that it would match community donations up to $750,000 in addition to the initial pledge.

Storm, who faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted, expressed gratitude to the Ethereum Foundation in a separate X post. He praised the donation as a major show of solidarity, particularly as his trial date draws near.

The latest contribution follows a $1 million donation earlier in February to fellow Tornado Cash co-founder Alexey Pertsev, who was convicted in May 2024 on similar charges and sentenced to 64 months in prison. Pertsev was recently released but remains electronically monitored on house arrest.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also previously contributed to the cause, along other industry figures like Paradigm CEO Matt Huang with donations to the ‘Free Pertsev & Storm’ legal aid campaign as a show of support in the ongoing battle. 

Prosecutors allege that Storm and his co-founders knowingly allowed Tornado Cash to be used by sanctioned entities like North Korea’s Lazarus Group, thereby aiding illicit transactions on the platform. So far, efforts by their legal team to dismiss the charges have fallen short.

Meanwhile, the third Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Semenov, also named in the DOJ indictment remains at large and has evaded authorities since the initial crackdown.