Vitalik Buterin Speaks Against Criminalizing Code in Tornado Cash Case

Vitalik Buterin Speaks Against Criminalizing Code in Tornado Cash Case

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin urges support for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, whose defense fund has surpassed $6.39 million amid U.S. money transmission conspiracy charges.

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Fact Check
The evidence provided strongly and consistently supports the truthfulness of the statement. There is a clear consensus across all ten sources, which range from high-authority crypto news outlets like The Block to mainstream financial news syndicates like Yahoo Finance, that Vitalik Buterin made a public statement in support of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm.Crucially, the highest-authority sources directly corroborate the specific phrasing of the statement. A report and corresponding social media post from The Block explicitly state that Buterin "condemned the 'criminalization of code'" in his appeal. This directly aligns with the core claim being assessed. Other sources, while sometimes using different phrasing like "publicly backed" or "expressed support," describe an action that is entirely consistent with this position.There are no contradictions or conflicting reports among the provided sources. The sheer volume of consistent reporting from multiple independent, credible outlets lends significant weight to the claim's accuracy. The convergence of evidence from news articles and social media posts from established entities in the crypto space confirms that Buterin's public intervention in the Tornado Cash case is a well-documented event, framed specifically as a stance against punishing developers for writing code.
Summary

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin reiterated his support for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, convicted in August of conspiring to transmit illegal funds and facing up to five years in prison. In his letter, Buterin argued the case criminalizes software development and underscored the importance of privacy tools. Storm’s legal defense fund has grown to over $6.39 million in 2025, with contributions from Buterin, the Ethereum Foundation, and other organizations.

Terms & Concepts
  • Tornado Cash: A cryptocurrency mixer protocol that enhances transaction privacy by obscuring on-chain links via smart contracts.
  • Ethereum: A decentralized blockchain platform for running smart contracts and applications.