40 ETH Donation to Tornado Cash Legal Defense
Nouns Donates 40 ETH to Tornado Cash Legal Defense Fund.
The case against Tornado Cash developers Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm became one of the most significant legal battles in crypto history, raising questions about financial privacy, open-source software, and the role of decentralized governance in legal activism.
Nouns stepped in donating 40 ETH (around $90,000 at the time) to their legal defense fund — a move that underscored Nouns commitment to protecting the foundations of decentralization.
The Ethereum Foundation also stepped up, recently donating $1.25 million toward Pertsev’s legal costs, signaling growing institutional support for the fight against what many see as an attack on financial privacy.
Summary of the Details
Tornado Cash, launched in 2019, is a privacy tool designed to obfuscate blockchain transactions, allowing users to maintain financial anonymity. However, regulators took issue with its usage, alleging that it facilitated illicit money laundering, including transactions linked to North Korean hackers.
The crackdown began in August 2022, when Dutch authorities arrested Alexey Pertsev on charges of money laundering. Despite arguments that Tornado Cash was an immutable, autonomous protocol, he was convicted in May 2024 and sentenced to 64 months in prison. As of March 2025 his legal team is appealing the decision, as the case remains active and unresolved.
In the U.S., Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm was indicted in August 2023 for conspiracy to commit money laundering and violations of U.S. sanctions laws. His trial is set for April 2025, with serious legal consequences on the line.
Alexey Pertsev’s Legal Status
Alexey Pertsev was convicted of money laundering by a Dutch court in May 2024 and sentenced to 64 months in prison. In February 2025, after spending over nine months in pretrial detention, Pertsev was released under house arrest pending his appeal. He is currently preparing his legal defense while under electronic monitoring.
Recent Court Statements
In a significant legal development, a U.S. appeals court ruled in November 2024 that the Treasury Department overstepped its authority when it sanctioned Tornado Cash. The court found that Tornado Cash’s smart contracts do not qualify as “property” under federal law, which may influence the legal proceedings against Pertsev and Storm. This ruling has given renewed hope to their defense teams and has fueled ongoing debates about the regulation of decentralized technologies.
Roman Storm’s Upcoming Trial
Roman Storm faces charges in the United States, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and sanctions violations related to his involvement with Tornado Cash. His trial has been scheduled to begin on April 14, 2025, following a postponement to allow adequate preparation due to the case’s complexity. If convicted on all counts, Storm could face significant prison time.
Other articles and useful links on this topic, as of March 2025:
- https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/20016411689538
- https://www.coinspeaker.com/vitalik-buterin-pushes-for-release-of-virgil-griffith-tornado-cash-developers/
- https://decrypt.co/304723/tornado-cash-developer-alexey-perstev-leaving-prison
- https://www.ccn.com/news/crypto/tornado-cashs-alexey-pertsev-released-nine-months-appeal/
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/edward-snowden-supports-legal-fund-for-tornado-cash-co-founder-roman-storm:-privacy-is-not
- https://cryptopotato.com/vitalik-buterin-donates-50-eth-to-the-legal-fund-of-tornado-cash-developers/
- https://cointelegraph.com/news/vitalik-buterin-30-eth-tornado-cash-legal-defense
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-tornado-cash-sanctions-shaan-ray-o5cxc/
- https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0916
- https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/03-16-2025-north-korean-hackers-allegedly-acquire-pepe-tokens-using-tornado-cash-21617775615425
- https://news.bitcoin.com/north-koreas-lazarus-group-moves-400-eth-to-tornado-cash-following-1-5b-bybit-hack/
- https://www.merklescience.com/blog/november-2024-ruling-overturns-tornado-cash-sanctions
- https://www.rareskills.io/post/how-does-tornado-cash-work
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_Cash
The Nouns Proposal
“In August 2022, the US authorities blacklisted Tornado Cash as a “sanctioned entity,” resulting in the arrests of two developers: Alexey Pertsev (Netherlands) and Roman Storm (US). The arrests of Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev are considered a direct attack on the open-source development space and may have devastating consequences for developers who write and publish code.
The outcome of Alexey and Roman’s upcoming 2024 trials will set precedents for privacy in web3 and the freedom to publish code without fear of government persecution. Roman and Alex need your help to build a strong defense not just for their sake, but for crypto users and developers worldwide. In response to the arrests, a group of sympathizers came together to form WeWantJusticeDAO to advocate on their behalf and help raise funds for legal defense. However, time and money are running out, and we need your support.
Complete breakdown of associated funding and costs:
View Roman’s statement here: https://x.com/rstormsf/status/1749490246000238942?s=20
This proposal would donate 40 ETH (around $90K at current prices) via Juicebox towards support for Alexey and Roman’s legal defense.
- https://www.nouns.camp/proposals/493 (original proposal)
- https://www.nouns.camp/proposals/502 (re-proposed due to a bug)
Why Did Nouns DAO Fund the Defense?
Nouns DAO has long embraced a mission to fund projects that push forward decentralization, open-source development, and creative public goods. With that ethos in mind, Prop 493 was put forth to donate 40 ETH to a legal defense fund supporting Pertsev and Storm. Nouns received commemorative NFTs in exchange for the donation, but the true motivation was clear: defending the principles of privacy and software neutrality in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
As the legal battles continue, the broader crypto community is watching closely. Nouns contribution represents more than just financial aid—it’s a statement about the importance of protecting decentralized technology and those who build it. Whether these cases set a precedent for the future of open-source development remains to be seen.
Follow the Tornado Cash Founders, Roman and Alexey:
Contribute to Romans Legal fund on Juicebox: https://juicebox.money/@defend-roman-storm