Ethereum Foundation donates $1.25 million for Tornado Cash developer’s legal defense

The Ethereum Foundation announced on X that it is contributing $1.25 million to support the legal defense of Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev. Arrested in the Netherlands for allegedly facilitating money laundering, Pertsev was sentenced to 64 months in prison and appealed the verdict in May 2024. He also faces trial in the U.S. on charges related to money laundering and sanctions violations. Supporters argue that privacy is a fundamental right and that writing code should not be criminalized.