Edward Snowden Supports Legal Defense Fund for Tornado Cash Founder
Edward Snowden, the whistleblower turned international fugitive, has thrown his support behind the legal defense fund for Roman Storm, the co-founder of Tornado Cash. Snowden took to Twitter to ask his followers to contribute to the fund, as Storm faces charges of money laundering for his involvement in the creation of Tornado Cash.
The Rise and Fall of Tornado Cash
Tornado Cash was a popular cryptocurrency mixing application that allowed users to anonymously send and receive Ethereum. However, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) banned Americans from using the service due to its alleged use by criminals for money laundering.
Storm and his colleague Roman Semenov were accused of laundering over $1 billion in criminal proceeds, leading to their arrests. Developer Alex Pertsev was also arrested in connection with the case.
A Direct Attack on Open-Source Development
The new fundraiser website argues that the arrests of Storm and Pertsev are a direct attack on the open-source development space and could have severe consequences for developers who write and publish code. Snowden echoed this sentiment, urging people to help support Storm’s cause.
Snowden’s Stance on Privacy and Cryptocurrencies
Edward Snowden has been a staunch advocate for privacy and cryptocurrencies. He has criticized the sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash as authoritarian and illiberal. Snowden himself has contributed to the privacy coin Zcash and encourages people to use cryptocurrencies rather than view them solely as investments.
Bitcoin’s Privacy Problem
Snowden has also highlighted Bitcoin’s privacy problem. While Bitcoin transactions are pseudonymous, meaning user identities are not recorded on the blockchain, every transaction can be tracked by authorities if necessary.
Hot Take: Snowden Stands Up for Privacy and Freedom
Edward Snowden’s support for the legal defense fund of Tornado Cash founder Roman Storm is another example of his unwavering commitment to privacy and freedom. As an advocate for open-source development and cryptocurrencies, Snowden believes that the arrests of Storm and Pertsev pose a threat to the entire development community. By rallying support and urging people to contribute, he aims to protect privacy rights and combat authoritarian measures. Snowden’s actions serve as a reminder that privacy is not a crime and that individuals should have the right to use cryptocurrencies without fear of persecution.
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