The Ethereum Foundation has pledged $500,000 to support the legal defense of Roman Storm, the developer charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for his role in creating Tornado Cash, an open-source privacy protocol on Ethereum. In addition to its contribution, the Foundation has committed to match community donations up to an additional $750,000, bringing the total potential support to $1.25 million.
Storm was arrested in August 2023 and is currently facing three federal charges: conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions laws. These charges stem from his work on Tornado Cash, which enables users to make private transactions on the blockchain using non-custodial smart contracts. The trial is set to begin on July 14, 2025.
The case has raised wide concerns across the tech and crypto industries, with many arguing that holding open-source developers liable for how others use their code could threaten the future of software innovation. Unlike traditional intermediaries, Tornado Cash does not give developers control over funds or users, a key factor highlighted by legal and blockchain experts.
In announcing the donation, the Ethereum Foundation reaffirmed its stance that “privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime.” Storm’s legal defense has so far raised over $1.7 million, with strong public support from figures in crypto, privacy advocacy, and digital rights communities.
For more details about the case, its implications, and how to donate, click here.
