Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is speaking out in support of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, asking the court to go easy when it comes to sentencing.
Buterin says this case isn’t really about criminal money laundering. He believes it’s about punishing someone for writing software. In a public letter shared on January 9, Buterin argued that privacy tools like Tornado Cash have many legal uses and that writing open-source code should not be treated as a crime.
He explained that privacy software exists for a reason. People use it to protect themselves from data leaks, hacking, and constant surveillance. Buterin said he has personally used tools like Tornado Cash for lawful reasons, such as buying technical services and donating to human rights groups, without leaving a permanent trail in corporate or government databases.
Buterin backed Storm’s legal argument that publishing open-source code is protected under the First Amendment. He warned that this case could set a dangerous precedent, where developers are held responsible for how other people misuse their code. In his view, prosecutors are focusing on authorship instead of intent or real financial harm.
He also spoke about Storm as a person, describing him as a principled developer. Buterin pointed out that Storm’s software kept working long after he stopped actively developing it, calling that a sign of integrity and solid engineering rather than profit chasing or hype-driven growth.
Storm’s legal defense has received strong support from the crypto community. Buterin confirmed that he personally donated to the defense fund, along with major contributions from the Ethereum Foundation. So far, more than $6.3 million has been raised to support Storm’s case.
Roman Storm was convicted in August on a charge related to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting service. He could face up to five years in prison, though he is currently free on bail while awaiting sentencing.
U.S. authorities claim Tornado Cash was used to move over $1 billion in illegal funds, including money tied to North Korean hackers. Still, many developers argue that holding software creators responsible for how others use their tools crosses a dangerous line.
The case has become a major moment for the tech and crypto world. Another Tornado Cash co-founder, Alexey Pertsev, received a prison sentence in the Netherlands but was later released under electronic monitoring while appealing. For many developers, Storm’s sentencing will help decide where responsibility for open-source code truly begins—and where it should end.
