Edward Snowden Backs Tornado Cash Developers in Legal Battle

Edward Snowden Supports Tornado Cash Developers in Legal Case

In the ongoing legal case surrounding Tornado Cash, whistleblower Edward Snowden has publicly shown his support for the developers of the cryptographic project. Snowden is urging his followers to contribute financially to their legal expenses. One of the programmers, Alexey Pertsev, was released in April 2023 after a year of detention. However, Roman Storm and Roman Semenov, the other protocol programmers, were accused of money laundering in August 2023. Storm was released on bail, while Semenov remains at large. The trial for Pertsev and Storm is scheduled for September 2024 and will set an important precedent for crimes related to open source programs.

Edward Snowden’s Call for Support

The developers of the privacy-oriented cryptocurrency platform, Tornado Cash, are facing significant risks in their upcoming trial and have reached out to their community for help. Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm, along with Roman Semenov who is currently on the run, have been accused of money laundering and violating US sanctions. Edward Snowden, known for his support of freedom of expression and privacy in the open source world, has urged his followers to contribute to a fundraising campaign aimed at supporting the developers’ legal expenses. Snowden emphasized that “privacy is not a crime.”

The Importance of the Case

The trial of Tornado Cash’s founders has attracted attention due to its potential impact on privacy in blockchain technology. The United States Department of Justice is treating this case as an attempt to sanction software code itself. The outcome will shape future debates surrounding privacy and legality within cryptographic communities. The legal fund established by JusticeDAO has already raised over $350,000 in cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies to defend Storm and Pertsev against the accusations.

The History of Tornado Cash

Tornado Cash is a privacy protocol for cryptocurrency transactions launched on the Ethereum blockchain in 2019. It allows for anonymous transfers by obscuring the origin of funds. The platform has processed around $7 billion in cryptocurrency, with approximately 20% linked to illicit activities. The developers have been accused of not implementing KYC or AML solutions as required by US law, enabling cybercriminals to use the platform for illegal activities. Despite legal challenges, Tornado Cash remains fully functional and community-managed.

The Divide in the Cryptocurrency Community

The case of Tornado Cash has divided the cryptocurrency community into two camps. One side supports decentralization and privacy, while the other prioritizes legality and compliance with laws. If the accusations against the protocol developers succeed, it could have significant implications for the future of open source programs and technological progress. The hope is that judges focus on identifying the real criminals rather than blaming software for their actions.

Hot Take: Edward Snowden Backs Tornado Cash Developers in Legal Battle

Computer scientist and whistleblower Edward Snowden has thrown his support behind the developers of Tornado Cash, a privacy-oriented cryptocurrency platform facing serious legal risks. Snowden has urged his followers to contribute financially to their legal expenses, emphasizing that “privacy is not a crime.” This case will set an important precedent for crimes related to open source programs, as it challenges the clash between privacy and legitimacy. With over $350,000 already raised through a fundraising campaign managed by JusticeDAO, the outcome of this trial will have significant implications for future debates surrounding privacy in blockchain technology.