A US federal judge has granted Alexey Pertsev, the Russian developer of the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, permission to leave prison while he appeals his conviction. Pertsev was arrested in Amsterdam last year and extradited to the United States, where he was convicted of money laundering charges related to Tornado Cash.
Pertsev said X on February 6 that, while he will no longer be in jail, his release does not constitute “real freedom” because he will still be subject to electronic monitoring.
The judge’s judgment follows a lengthy legal fight. Pertsev’s lawyers argued that he was merely a software developer and should not be held responsible for how others used his technology. They also argued that his conviction sets a dangerous precedent that could criminalize software developers for the actions of their users.
The government argued that Pertsev knowingly created software that was used by criminals to launder billions of dollars. They also argued that he should not be allowed to leave prison because he is a flight risk.
The judge ultimately decided to grant Pertsev’s request for release. However, he imposed strict conditions, including electronic monitoring and a curfew.
Pertsev’s release is a significant victory for his legal team and a blow to the government’s efforts to crack down on cryptocurrency-related crime. It remains to be seen how the appeal process will unfold, but Pertsev’s release raises important questions about the legal and regulatory challenges of cryptocurrency in the modern world.
