Vitalik Buterin has confirmed that the Ethereum Foundation is matching public donations for Roman Storm’s legal defense. Storm, cofounder of Tornado Cash, is currently facing federal charges in the United States, including allegations related to money laundering and sanctions violations.
According to a statement made by Buterin on his official X account, the Foundation is now actively involved in raising funds. The Ethereum Foundation will match each dollar the public donates to help Storm pay his legal bills. This matching exercise is geared toward ensuring Storm has access to good legal counsel.
Storm’s case has sparked intense debate within the cryptocurrency community. Most developers and blockchain enthusiasts protest that charging an open-source developer would be detrimental to the future of decentralized finance. In their view, the lawsuit may scare off innovation and restrict the creation of tools that protect financial privacy.
Also Read: Pi Network Explodes 10% as Breakout Nears and Binance Listing Rumors Swirl
Community Backing Grows as Treasury Reverses Sanctions
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Tornado Cash in 2022 for its alleged role in helping North Korean-linked hackers launder stolen funds. These sanctions were officially reversed in March 2025, a move celebrated across the DeFi space. The reversal has given renewed momentum to efforts in Storm’s defense.
According to a post by Buterin, donors will only have 19 days to donate to the legal fund. The Foundation’s move to match these donations has been hailed by Storm’s supporters. They take it as a powerful statement that developers who make privacy solutions have the backing of the Ethereum community.
The crypto community continues to express concern about the broader implications of Storm’s case. Opponents believe that making illegal the development of decentralized tools might establish a hazardous precedent. This newer protest can become a central factor in achieving fair legal proceedings.
With the Ethereum Foundation now directly involved, Storm’s defense has received a significant boost. The financial backing could strengthen efforts to challenge the charges and defend open-source innovation within the blockchain space.
Also Read: Cardano to Turn $100M Into Crypto Power Fund in Bold DeFi Treasury Shakeup
