Vitalik Buterin has once again supported Tornado Cash creator Roman Storm by donating 100 Ether for his legal defense.
Vitalik Buterin's Donation
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has donated 100 Ether, valued at approximately $240,000, to the legal defense fund for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm. This marks the third donation from Buterin. According to the Defend Roman Storm page, over 327 ETH has been gathered from 148 different payments. Roman Storm expressed his gratitude for Buterin's support.
Roman Storm Case Continues
On September 26, 2024, U.S. Judge Katherine Failla denied Roman Storm's motion to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed. Storm pleaded not guilty, asserting Tornado Cash is open-source software available to anyone. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison. In June 2024, JusticeDAO was formed to raise funds for his defense, collecting over 654 ETH.
Sanctions Can't Stop Tornado Cash
Despite OFAC sanctions and U.S. legal pressure, deposits into the Tornado Cash mixer reached around $1.9 billion in the first half of 2024, a 50% increase from the previous year. Sanctions are effective only if Tornado Cash users choose to route funds through OFAC-compliant centralized exchanges with KYC controls and target addresses.
Despite challenges, Tornado Cash continues to attract deposits, while Vitalik Buterin remains a prominent supporter.