Vitalik Buterin Pushes for Release of Virgil Griffith, Tornado Cash Developers

Vitalik Buterin believes developers like Roman Storm, Alexey Pertsev and Virgil Griffith also deserves pardon.

Godfrey Benjamin By Godfrey Benjamin Marco T. Lanz Edited by Marco T. Lanz Updated 3 mins read
Vitalik Buterin Pushes for Release of Virgil Griffith, Tornado Cash Developers

Key Notes

  • Vitalik Buterin has called for intervention in the legal battles of Roman Storm.
  • He and the crypto community voices have also called for Virgil Griffith and Alexey Pertsev.
  • The call came after President Donald Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht.

Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, is speaking out for the release of well-known developers in the crypto world under lockup. Buterin and several others have called for the release of Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith and Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm. 

The plea comes as the crypto community reflects on Ross Ulbricht’s recent pardon by President Donald Trump. Ulbricht’s release has sparked renewed conversations about justice and ties in the digital currency space. 

Silk Road Creator Release Sparks Vitalik’s Call for Justice

In a Wednesday post on X, Vitalik Buterin wrote “No man left behind.” This was a call for President Trump to intervene in the release of Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, co-founders of Tornado Cash.

His statement echoed the desire for justice and support for his colleagues facing legal battles. Buterin’s words highlighted the urgency of their situation and the need for action. Vitalik Buterin’s appeal came just hours after President Trump signed an executive order pardoning Ross Ulbricht. 

Ulbricht received double life sentences for creating the infamous Silk Road darknet marketplace. Many in the crypto space had long called for his release. Coinspeaker reported that the pardon fulfilled a promise made during Trump’s election campaign.

The timing of the pardon added weight to Buterin’s message. It also renewed attention on the challenges faced by individuals in the crypto community.

The Legal Cases Against Tornado Cash, Griffith and Storm

Virgil Griffith’s case gained attention after he was sentenced to 56 months in prison in 2021. He pleaded guilty to violating US sanctions after he traveled to North Korea in 2019. Griffith had been offering advice on how crypto could be used to bypass sanctions, which led to his arrest and conviction.

Roman Storm’s case involved his role in Tornado Cash, a decentralized crypto mixer. In 2023, he was charged with money laundering and sanctions violations for running the platform. Storm has defended himself, arguing that his First Amendment rights were violated.

His trial was delayed several times, leading him to vent his frustration on social media, tagging figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump

Similarly, Tornado Cash has faced intense scrutiny from US regulators for years. In 2022, the US Treasury Department sanctioned the platform, claiming that it served as a venue to launder money and evade sanctions. Many in the crypto world disagreed, saying Tornado Cash is just software and cannot be treated like a person or entity.

The Tornado Cash Liberation

Surprisingly, a US appeals court ruled in November 2023 that the US Treasury had overstepped its authority when it sanctioned the platform. Recently, a Texas court ordered that the sanctions be reversed, marking a big win for the crypto community.

The cases of Virgil Griffith and Roman Storm highlight the crypto world’s struggles with freedom, regulation, and fairness. Ulbricht’s pardon sparked reactions, including one from a community member wishing Binance co-founder Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao a pardon too.

CZ was forced to step down as Binance CEO in 2023. The US authorities charged the exchange with violating securities laws and anti-money laundering regulations. As a result, the Binance founder has faced intense scrutiny.

The trading platform was hit with a multi-billion-dollar fine, and CZ received a lifetime ban from holding leadership roles within the company. In 2024, he served a brief prison sentence in the US, The threat of additional legal action still hangs over him.

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Godfrey Benjamin

Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalist who relishes writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desire to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain media and sites.

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