Tornado Cash dev Alexey Pertsev seeks more funding for legal appeal
The legal battle surrounding Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev has reached a critical juncture as he seeks additional funding to continue his fight for privacy rights and the freedom to publish code.
According to the support account for Pertsev and Roman Storm, Pertsev, who was arrested two years ago and is embroiled in a high-stakes legal dispute, is now facing an uphill battle against government forces equipped with vast resources dedicated to his prosecution.
The support account highlighted the dire financial situation, noting that Pertsev has exhausted his funds. “It’s time to take a stand with Alexey and fight for what’s right,” the account stated, emphasizing the urgent need for between $750,000 and $1 million to cover ongoing legal expenses.
Crypto community support
The crypto community has shown unwavering support for Pertsev and his co-developer Storm, both of whom have been charged with money laundering, sanctions violations and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business through crypto mixing service Tornado Cash.
This support has culminated in the creation of JusticeDAO, an advocacy group aimed at raising funds for the developers’ legal defenses. By June 19, the group had raised over 654 Ether ( ETH ), equivalent to approximately $2.3 million at that time , through a fundraiser titled “Free Alexey Roman” on the decentralized platform Juicebox.
Additionally, another 70 Ether was raised via the JusticeDAO page. Juicebox has maintained transparency by releasing a publicly available spreadsheet that tracks the expenses of the "Free Alexey Roman” fund, revealing that $1.39 million was spent on legal fees between December 2023 and May 2024.
Pertsev’s legal battle
Despite these substantial efforts, the financial demands of Pertsev’s legal battle are immense. He remains incarcerated after being denied bail , and his lawyers are preparing to appeal the charges of money laundering.
Related: OKX cracks down on Tornado Cash users with account terminations
Pertsev’s situation has been further complicated by the denial of his request to access a computer to prepare for his appeal, highlighting the challenges he faces in mounting an effective defense.
Pertsev was found guilty of money laundering by the ‘s-Hertogenbosch Court of Appeal in the Netherlands on May 14, receiving a sentence of five years and four months in prison. The court’s decision was based on allegations that Pertsev laundered $1.2 billion worth of illicit assets through Tornado Cash.
This verdict followed a previous ruling in November 2023, where a Dutch court denied Pertsev's plea for release under surveillance , citing the prosecution's argument that he posed a flight risk.
During his March trial, Pertsev argued that he should not be held liable for the actions of individuals who used the Tornado Cash protocol for illegal purposes. However, the court dismissed this argument, stating that Pertsev and his co-founders could have implemented additional measures to prevent criminal misuse of the protocol.
Magazine — ‘Bitcoin Layer 2s’ aren’t really L2s at all: Here’s why that matters
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Bitcoin’s Future Could Depend on U.S. Presidential Election Outcome, Analysts Say
![](https://img.bitgetimg.com/multiLang/image/social/a7b0c9f5a2cc4d779116a1837c89e8471725975186684.jpeg)
Over 86% of Web3 professionals are confident in the future of crypto: Consensys
Polygon and Fabric team up to fast-track ZK-proof adoption on AggLayer
Ethena’s risky path: A synthetic stablecoin cautionary tale