Vitalik Buterin Defends Tornado Cash Developer Against Code Criminalization

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly supported Roman Storm, the developer behind Tornado Cash, in a letter released on Friday. Buterin strongly criticized the U.S. government's approach to prosecuting software developers for creating privacy tools. He argued that the case against Storm focuses on code itself rather than any direct involvement in criminal activity.

Storm faces sentencing after a jury convicted him in August on a conspiracy charge related to money transmitting. He remains free on bail following a judicial determination that he poses no flight risk. The potential sentence carries a maximum of five years in prison, stemming from charges first filed by the Department of Justice in August 2023.

Tornado Cash operates as a non-custodial cryptocurrency mixer designed to enhance transaction privacy on Ethereum. U.S. authorities have claimed the tool facilitated the laundering of over one billion dollars in illicit funds. The jury reached a verdict only on the money transmitting count, leaving money laundering and sanctions violations unresolved due to a hung decision.

Growing Industry Backing Amid Privacy Tool Scrutiny

Buterin emphasized the importance of privacy tools in protecting individuals from widespread data collection by corporations and governments. In his letter, he revealed personal use of Tornado Cash to purchase technical equipment and donate to human rights organizations without leaving traceable records. In his view, such tools restore privacy norms that existed before the era of constant digital surveillance.

The Ethereum leader praised Storm's commitment to building reliable software that remains functional long after development ceases. He contrasted this with many modern tech products that prioritize profit over durability and user protection. Buterin's support includes a substantial donation of 50 ETH, worth about $170,000 at the time, to Storm's legal defense in December 2024.

The Ethereum Foundation has also contributed significantly, providing $500,000 in June of the previous year and committing to match additional community donations up to $750,000. A dedicated defense fund for Tornado Cash developers launched in October 2025 through collaboration between the Foundation and Keyring. Storm's legal fund collected over $6.39 million in 2025 alone, reflecting broad community backing.

Support extends across the cryptocurrency ecosystem, including contributions from blockchain researcher Federico Carrone and the Solana Policy Institute. Carrone increased his donation to $500,000 through his venture studio LambdaClass. The Solana group directed similar funding toward both Storm and Tornado Cash co-creator Alexey Pertsev.

These efforts come against a backdrop of increasing legal pressure on privacy tool developers worldwide. Pertsev received a 64-month prison sentence in the Netherlands in 2024 for money laundering tied to the platform. In the United States, the founders of Samourai Wallet faced charges for operating a similar mixing service, resulting in multi-year prison terms handed down in November 2025.

Advocacy groups continue pushing for clearer legal protections for developers. More than 110 cryptocurrency organizations urged Senate leaders in August 2025 to include explicit safeguards in market structure legislation. A senior Justice Department official has stated that writing code alone does not constitute a crime, while President Donald Trump indicated in December 2025 that he would review potential pardons in related cases.

The outcome of Storm's sentencing could set important precedents for how authorities treat open-source privacy coins, tools, and software. Developers and supporters argue that criminalizing code threatens innovation in financial privacy technology. The case highlights ongoing tensions between regulatory enforcement and the core principles of decentralized systems.