The Ethereum Foundation has made a decisive move to support Roman Storm, cofounder of Tornado Cash, as he faces a high-profile legal battle in the United States. With Storm’s trial set for July 14, 2025, in Manhattan federal court, the Foundation has pledged an initial $500,000 to his legal defense and committed to matching up to $750,000 in additional community donations. This brings the potential total support to $1,25 million, marking one of the most significant public stances by a major blockchain organization in defense of open-source development and privacy rights .
Why Is the Ethereum Foundation Getting Involved?
Roman Storm is charged with conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter, money laundering, and violating U.S. sanctions. The case centers on Tornado Cash, a decentralized crypto mixer accused by U.S. authorities of enabling the laundering of over $1 billion in illicit funds, including transactions linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group .
The Ethereum Foundation’s donation is not just financial—it’s a statement. In their words, “privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime.” This reflects a growing sentiment in the crypto community that prosecuting developers for creating privacy tools could set a dangerous precedent, potentially stifling innovation and discouraging the development of decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions .
Community Response and Industry Impact
The Foundation’s matching campaign has energized the crypto community, with many seeing it as a rallying point for defending the rights of developers and the future of open-source blockchain projects. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s cofounder, has publicly supported the initiative, and other industry leaders have contributed to the legal fund .
Storm’s defense team argues that the case is about more than one developer—it’s about whether building privacy-focused, open-source tools should be criminalized. The outcome could influence how regulators and courts treat similar projects in the future, making this a landmark moment for DeFi and privacy advocates .
A Turning Point After Sanctions Reversal
The U.S. Treasury’s reversal of sanctions against Tornado Cash in March 2025 has added momentum to Storm’s defense efforts. The move was widely celebrated in the DeFi space and has encouraged more public support for Storm as his trial approaches .
How to Support
The Ethereum Foundation’s matching campaign is open for a limited time, giving donors 19 days to contribute. Every dollar donated by the public will be matched by the Foundation, doubling the impact of each contribution and ensuring Storm has access to robust legal representation.
