The Solana Policy Institute, a nonprofit advocacy group for Solana, has committed $500,000 to the legal defense of Tornado Cash co-founders Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, further expanding the financial backing from the crypto community.
On August 6, Storm was convicted for running an unlicensed money-transmitting business, while Pertsev faced a money laundering conviction in 2024 related to Tornado Cash, a protocol that helps users obscure the origins and destinations of their crypto transactions.
The Solana Policy Institute announced on Thursday that their $500,000 donation will support Storm (who is pursuing post-trial motions to overturn his conviction) and Pertsev’s appeal.
Through community fundraising, the Free Roman Storm fund has gathered $5.5 million for his legal defense, now roughly $1.5 million short of its goal.
Ethereum heavyweights rally for support
Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone pledged $500,000 on August 11, after being detained by Turkish authorities due to alleged ties to an Ethereum privacy protocol.
The Ethereum Foundation also committed to matching up to $500,000 in donations to Storm’s defense fund post-conviction.
Having already donated $500,000 in June, the Foundation promised to match an additional $750,000 from the crypto community.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has contributed as well, donating two amounts totaling 150 Ether, equivalent to over $673,000 based on current prices.
More community support for Storm
In July, Bill Warren, a developer and contributor to Meta Cartel DAO, announced that the group’s entire treasury was allocated to support Storm’s legal battle.
Julian Zawistowski, founder of the Golem project, confirmed that his team donated 50 Ether in July, valued at over $224,000 at current prices.
Another significant contribution came from investment firm Paradigm, which stated it would provide $1.25 million in January, with co-founder Matt Huang stating back then, “Holding software developers accountable for how third parties use the product would create a chilling effect in crypto and beyond.”
Storm’s case alters developers’ “risk calculus”
Legal experts and industry analysts have condemned the Tornado Cash developers’ convictions, claiming they set a troubling precedent for open-source developers and affect user privacy.
Related: Privacy isn’t a luxury in crypto, it’s a necessity — Midnight CEO
Following its donation, the Solana Policy Institute asserted that the charges behind the convictions stem from a misunderstanding of blockchain technology’s functioning.
“The government’s logic is straightforward yet dangerous: If you create open-source code that anyone can use — whether for good or ill — you bear responsibility for its misuse — even without ongoing control over or ability to manage the code in question,” they stated.
“If the government can charge developers for creating neutral tools that are misused by others, it fundamentally alters how developers assess risk.”
The Blockchain Association, a crypto industry lobbying organization in Washington, echoed similar sentiments after Storm’s conviction, stating that the ruling sets a “dangerous precedent for open-source software developers.”
Magazine: Can privacy survive in US crypto policy after Roman Storm’s conviction?
