Ethereum Foundation Matches Public Donations for Tornado Cash Co-Founder's Legal Defense

The Ethereum Foundation has announced that it will match public donations for the legal defense of Roman Storm, the cofounder of Tornado Cash. Storm is currently facing federal charges in the United States, including allegations of money laundering and sanctions violations. Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, confirmed this initiative on his official X account, stating that the Foundation is actively involved in raising funds to support Storm's legal defense. The Foundation will match each dollar donated by the public, ensuring that Storm has access to competent legal counsel.

Storm's case has ignited a heated debate within the cryptocurrency community. Many developers and blockchain enthusiasts argue that prosecuting an open-source developer could have detrimental effects on the future of decentralized finance. They believe that such legal actions could deter innovation and restrict the development of tools that enhance financial privacy. The community's concern is that making the development of decentralized tools illegal could set a dangerous precedent, potentially hindering fair legal proceedings.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Tornado Cash in 2022 for its alleged involvement in helping North Korean-linked hackers launder stolen funds. These sanctions were officially reversed in March 2025, a decision that was widely celebrated within the DeFi space. The reversal has provided renewed momentum to efforts in Storm's defense. Buterin's post indicated that donors have only 19 days to contribute to the legal fund. The Foundation's decision to match these donations has been met with enthusiasm by Storm's supporters, who view it as a strong endorsement from the Ethereum community for developers creating privacy solutions.

With the Ethereum Foundation now directly involved, Storm's defense has received a significant boost. The financial backing could strengthen efforts to challenge the charges and defend open-source innovation within the blockchain space. The community's backing and the Foundation's support underscore the importance of protecting developers who contribute to the advancement of decentralized technologies.