Alexey Pertsev, the co-founder and developer of Tornado Cash, a decentralized cryptocurrency mixing service, is facing a mounting legal battle and requires additional financial support to continue his appeal. Pertsev was arrested in Amsterdam in August 2022 following the U.S. Treasury’s blacklisting of Tornado Cash. He was subsequently found guilty of money laundering and sentenced to 64 months in prison.
The developer is currently detained by Dutch authorities and has been denied bail while preparing for his appeal. Pertsev and his supporters argue that he is being prosecuted for developing open-source software and that this sets a dangerous precedent for developers worldwide.
A support account for Pertsev and Roman Storm, another Tornado Cash co-founder, has launched a fundraising campaign to cover the substantial legal expenses associated with the appeal process. The campaign aims to raise between $750,000 and $1 million to support Pertsev’s fight for privacy rights and the freedom to publish code.
The crypto community has already rallied behind Pertsev, with donations reaching approximately $2.3 million through JusticeDAO. However, additional funds are urgently needed to ensure a robust legal defense.
Pertsev’s case has ignited a broader conversation about the implications of holding developers accountable for the actions of users and the potential chilling effect on innovation in the cryptocurrency space.
