Edward Snowden Supports Legal Defense Fund for Tornado Cash Founder
Whistleblower Edward Snowden has endorsed the legal defense fund for Roman Storm, co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash. Snowden took to Twitter to ask followers to contribute to Storm’s campaign to raise money for a lawyer. Storm was arrested by the US Department of Justice last year and charged with money laundering related to his involvement with Tornado Cash.
The Rise and Fall of Tornado Cash
Tornado Cash was a popular coin mixing application that allowed users to anonymously send and receive Ethereum. However, in 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) banned Americans from using the service due to its alleged use in money laundering activities. Storm and his colleague Roman Semenov were accused of laundering over $1 billion in criminal proceeds.
Supporting Open-Source Development
The new fundraiser’s website argues that the arrests of Storm and Alex Pertsev are an attack on open-source development and could have negative consequences for developers who write and publish code. Snowden echoed this sentiment, urging people to support Storm’s cause and stating that privacy is not a crime.
Snowden’s Advocacy for Privacy and Cryptocurrencies
Edward Snowden, known for his advocacy of privacy rights, has been living in exile in Russia since being charged with espionage by the US government in 2013. He has been involved in the creation of the privacy coin Zcash and has spoken out about Bitcoin’s privacy issues. While Bitcoin is pseudonymous, meaning user identities are not recorded on the blockchain, transaction details can still be traced by authorities.
Hot Take: Support for Privacy and Open-Source Development
Edward Snowden’s endorsement of the legal defense fund for the Tornado Cash founder highlights his ongoing commitment to privacy rights and his belief in the importance of open-source development. By supporting Storm’s cause, Snowden aims to challenge the perception that privacy is a crime and raise awareness about the potential consequences of targeting developers in the cryptocurrency space. This endorsement serves as a reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding privacy, anonymity, and the role of cryptocurrencies in safeguarding individuals’ rights.
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