Vitalik Buterin: Firmly Supports Tornado Cash Developer, Over $6.3 Million Raised to Date

Odaily News Vitalik Buterin has expressed his support for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm. Roman Storm was convicted in August 2025 for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business and is currently facing up to five years in prison. In a letter, Vitalik Buterin emphasized that privacy tools are a necessary defense against systemic data exploitation and revealed that he has used the software multiple times to support human rights charities.

As of January 2026, Roman Storm's legal defense fund had raised over $6.39 million in 2025. Previously, Vitalik Buterin donated 50 ETH in December 2024, valued at approximately $170,000. The Ethereum Foundation also donated $500,000 in 2025 and pledged to match up to $750,000 in community donations. Currently, global law enforcement actions against privacy crypto tools are escalating; the founders of Samourai Wallet were also sentenced to four to five years in prison respectively in November 2025.