Tornado Cash Dev Alexey Pertsev Seeks Urgent Legal Funding

As a seasoned crypto investor and ardent supporter of privacy rights, I find myself deeply troubled by the plight of Alexey Pertsev, the developer behind Tornado Cash. His unwavering commitment to preserving our financial anonymity is commendable, yet it seems that he’s been left high and dry in his time of need.


Alexey Pertsev, the creator of the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, has appealed for monetary assistance because he’s up against a formidable legal fight with the government, backed by substantial financial resources.

Alexey Pertsev’s assistance has communicated that he is out of funds and requires between $750,000 and $1 million to carry on his legal struggle. They strongly emphasized the significance of rallying behind Alexey, expressing, “Now is the moment to join forces with Alexey and fight for justice together.”

Support Alexey Pertsev, who has been in detention for two years now. He is running low on resources to protect our right to privacy and the freedom to share coding. Let’s rally together for Alexey and stand up for justice.

— Free Pertsev & Storm (@FreeAlexeyRoman) August 10, 2024

Despite the allegations against them for money laundering, violating sanctions, and operating an unauthorized money-transmission service with Tornado Cash, Pertsev and his fellow developer Roman Storm have received backing from the crypto community.

As someone who has been actively involved in the crypto space for several years now, I am deeply impressed by the rapid development and innovation that the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector is witnessing. The creation of JusticeDAO, a group dedicated to raising funds for legal defense, is a shining example of how blockchain technology can be leveraged for social good.

Even though Pertsev’s legal defense costs have been covered to some extent, they remain substantial. Nevertheless, JusticeDAO has persisted in its fundraising efforts, amassing an additional 70 ETH. The organization has been open about its actions, publicly disclosing a spreadsheet detailing $1.39 million spent on legal fees from December 2023 to May 2024.

Nevertheless, Pertsev’s circumstances continue to be challenging. He remains imprisoned without being granted bail, and his legal team is currently working on an appeal against the money laundering allegations. The complexity of his defense has been exacerbated due to the court’s refusal to permit him access to a computer for his appeal preparations.

As a crypto investor, I’ve been closely following the recent developments concerning Tornado Cash. The Dutch court, specifically the ‘s-Hertogenbosch Court of Appeal, has handed down a sentence of five years and four months to Pertsev for laundering an estimated $1.2 billion using this platform. This serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence and understanding the potential implications of our investments in the crypto space.

Read More

2024-08-11 22:12