The Ethereum Foundation emphasized that 'privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime,' reflecting its stance on the legal implications of coding in the crypto space.

The total community funding for Storm's defense has now reached around $3 million, bolstered by earlier support from venture firm Paradigm and prominent figures like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

Storm has received backing from various advocacy groups and notable figures in the crypto industry, including amicus briefs filed by Coin Center and Blockchain Association, which emphasize the potential repercussions of a conviction on the broader industry.

Expressing gratitude for the support, Storm highlighted the importance of defending privacy and the right to code, stating that a loss in his trial could have dire consequences for decentralized finance.

The Ethereum Foundation has announced a significant commitment of $1 million to support the legal defense of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, who is facing serious charges related to operating an unlicensed crypto mixing service.

Storm, charged in 2023 with conspiracy to commit money laundering and sanctions violations, is scheduled to stand trial on July 14, 2025.

Storm's legal team previously sought to have the case dismissed, citing a judge's ruling that limited the U.S. Treasury's authority in sanctioning Tornado Cash's operations.

The trial is set against a backdrop where the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control removed Tornado Cash smart contract addresses from its sanctions list in March 2025, following a court ruling.

He is currently out on $2 million bail after being arrested in August 2023 for allegedly laundering over $1 billion in cryptocurrency, including funds linked to North Korea's Lazarus Group.

Storm has argued that the charges against him violate his First Amendment rights, and he continues to fight these serious allegations.

Meanwhile, another Tornado Cash developer, Alexey Pertsev, has been convicted and sentenced to over five years in prison for similar charges, while Roman Semenov remains at large.

Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixer that facilitated privacy in transactions, has raised significant legal and regulatory concerns in the U.S. and beyond.