#Solana Policy Institute Donates $500K to
#Tornado #Cash Developers’ Legal Defense Amid Crypto Industry Concerns
Solana Policy Institute Steps Up for Tornado Cash Developers
In a bold move to support embattled cryptocurrency developers, the Solana Policy Institute (SPI), a prominent crypto advocacy group, has pledged $500,000 to fund the legal defenses of Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, the developers behind the Tornado Cash Ethereum-based coin mixing service. This announcement, made on August 28, 2025, comes as the crypto industry grapples with the broader implications of their convictions, which many fear could set a dangerous precedent for software developers worldwide. Here’s an in-depth look at this significant development, its impact on the crypto ecosystem, and the ongoing fight for developer protections.
The Legal Battle of Tornado Cash Developers
Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, key figures in the development of Tornado Cash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency mixing service, have faced severe legal challenges in recent years. Storm was convicted in Manhattan earlier this month for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, a charge that carries a potential five-year prison sentence. The jury, after four days of deliberation, could not reach a verdict on additional charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions, leaving open the possibility of a retrial. Meanwhile, Pertsev was sentenced in 2024 by a Dutch court to over five years in prison for money laundering, a ruling he is currently appealing.
These convictions have sent shockwaves through the crypto industry and broader tech community, raising alarms about the potential criminalization of software development. Tornado Cash, designed to enhance transaction privacy on the Ethereum blockchain, has been criticized by regulators for its alleged use in illicit activities, such as money laundering by groups like North
#Korea ’s
#Lazarus Group...
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