Overview
- Buterin published a letter Friday calling privacy a basic protection, saying he has used tools built by Storm and arguing developers should not be punished for third-party misuse.
- Storm was convicted in August 2025 on an unlicensed money transmitting charge after a jury deadlocked on other counts, remains free on bail, and faces up to five years in prison.
- Storm has moved for acquittal as prosecutors oppose, and a senior Justice Department official later said developers would no longer be convicted under the same transmitting charge.
- Financial backing for Storm’s defense includes Buterin’s 50 ETH donation, a $500,000 Ethereum Foundation contribution with matching commitments, and more than $6.39 million raised in 2025.
- The case unfolds against DOJ allegations that Tornado Cash laundered over $1 billion and parallel international actions, including Alexey Pertsev’s 64‑month Dutch sentence and appeal under house arrest.