Solana News Today: Family of Ex-OpenAI Researcher Launches Crypto Fund to Challenge Suicide Ruling

The family of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher found dead in his San Francisco apartment in November 2024, has turned to cryptocurrency to fund an independent investigation into the circumstances of his death. The medical examiner classified the case as a suicide, but the family disputes this conclusion, alleging the scene was staged and that authorities mishandled the investigation. To raise funds, they have embraced crypto donations, including launching a Solana-based meme coin called “Justice for Suchir (SUCHIR)” on the Bags.FM platform in December 2024 [1].

The token briefly reached a peak value of $0.015, raising $5,000 for the family. However, the coin’s value subsequently dropped over 99%, trading at $0.00006043 as of the latest data. To date, the campaign has raised a total of $11,499.35 [1]. Prior to the token launch, a separate crypto fundraiser in January 2025 generated over $140,000 in Solana and other tokens, which the family’s representative, Poornima Rao, described as essential for sustaining their efforts when traditional funding options were unavailable [1].

Rao has continued to seek support via public appeals on social media, including sharing a donation address for the Solana-based fundraiser. Despite initial success, the primary Solana wallet for the $140,000 campaign has not seen any new donations since April 2025, according to blockchain data. The meme coin wallet, however, continues to receive small contributions [1].

Legal costs have proven steep, with one attorney billing the family $25,000 per hour before withdrawing due to other commitments. A second lawyer charged $60,000, while Rao herself spent $115,000 on investigation-related fees [1]. In February 2025, the family filed a lawsuit against the City of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department, accusing them of withholding key evidence and failing to conduct a proper inquiry. Rao has noted the difficulty in securing reliable legal representation, stating, “Very few investigators know how to get the truth out” [1].

Balaji was a well-known figure in AI ethics circles and had previously raised over $1.5 billion for an AI-focused initiative, demonstrating his ability to attract large-scale funding. His vocal criticism of OpenAI’s use of copyrighted material to train AI models may have played a role in the controversy surrounding his death [1].

OpenAI has not publicly commented on the allegations, maintaining a neutral stance in the ongoing dispute. Meanwhile, the broader AI industry continues to debate ethical and safety concerns, including the mental health of researchers. Balaji’s death has reignited these discussions, adding a human dimension to the often abstract debate over artificial intelligence governance [1].

The use of cryptocurrency in this case highlights a shift in how families and activists respond to perceived institutional failures in official investigations. It also underscores the increasing role of digital assets in supporting causes that fall outside traditional legal or political frameworks. As the case continues, it will serve as a case study in the intersection of cryptocurrency, legal advocacy, and institutional accountability [1].

Source:

[1] Family of Ex-OpenAI Researcher Turn to Crypto to Fund Disputed Death Probe. (2025, August 4). Decrypt. https://decrypt.co/334662/family-openai-researcher-crypto-fund-disputed-death-probe