Vitalik Buterin Defends Tornado Cash Developer Facing 5 Years in Prison: ’Don’t Criminalize Code’

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has thrown his weight behind a Tornado Cash developer staring down a half-decade prison sentence, sparking a fierce debate about where the line between tool and crime truly lies.

The Core of the Conflict

At the heart of the case is a simple, powerful argument: code is speech. Prosecutors see a tool built for criminals; the defense sees neutral technology being punished for its misuse. Buterin's public stance isn't just support—it's a philosophical battleground for the entire crypto industry. If writing privacy-preserving software can land you in jail for five years, what's next?

A Chilling Precedent for Builders

The implications cut deep. Developers now face a terrifying calculus: could the code they write today be weaponized against them tomorrow? This case threatens to freeze innovation at its source, pushing builders toward sanitized, regulator-approved projects while genuine privacy tech moves underground. It's a classic regulatory overreach—trying to ban cryptography is like trying to ban math.

The Finance Angle: Follow the Money

Let's be cynical for a second. The real outrage from traditional finance isn't about crime—it's about control. A system that can't track every transaction is a system that can't tax, freeze, or seize at will. Tornado Cash didn't just anonymize payments; it exposed the surveillance-based foundation of modern financial compliance. No wonder the hammer came down so hard.

The verdict here won't just decide one developer's fate. It will signal whether open-source development has a future in finance, or if every coder must first get permission from the very institutions crypto aimed to bypass.

Vitalik Says Tornado Cash Case Threatens Privacy and Digital Rights

In a post on X, Storm said the case had reached a key moment, warning that equating privacy tools with money laundering could reshape the future of open-source software.

They argued that writing code is a crime. They compared privacy tools to money laundering.

But we know the truth: Privacy is a human right. Math is not a crime.

The fight for my freedom – and for the future of open-source software – is at a critical moment. I need your voice to… pic.twitter.com/LIRVwFez5I

He urged the crypto community to submit letters of support, describing public voices as one of the few tools left as his legal fight continues.

Buterin responded with a lengthy letter backing Storm, framing the case as a broader struggle over privacy, personal safety, and digital rights.

He said he has supported Storm’s work from the beginning and has personally used privacy tools developed by Storm for legitimate purposes, including software purchases and charitable donations.

Done. Re-posting the contents for public consumption: pic.twitter.com/8nUrnkAz9w

Buterin argued that privacy is not a fringe idea but a basic protection that existed by default decades ago, before constant digital surveillance became normal.

He rejected the idea that governments should have unrestricted access to personal financial data, pointing to repeated data breaches, data brokerage practices, and outsourcing of sensitive information to private companies.

Buterin described Storm as a principled developer focused on quality and long-term usability rather than profit or publicity, noting that Tornado Cash tools remained functional even years after Storm stopped actively maintaining them.

He said that fact alone distinguished the work from much of modern consumer technology and showing why he believes Storm should not be punished for building neutral software.

Storm Convicted on One Count as Major Charges Remain Unresolved

The legal stakes are high, as Storm was arrested in August 2023 and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and violating U.S. sanctions.

After a federal trial in August 2025, a jury returned a partial verdict, convicting Storm on the unlicensed money transmission charge, which carries a maximum sentence of five years, while failing to reach a verdict on the money laundering and sanctions charges.

A post-trial schedule for Roman Storm's case has been set as federal prosecutors decide whether or not to retry the developer.#RomanStorm #TornadoCashhttps://t.co/OjMG5qk5fl

Those counts remain unresolved, leaving Storm exposed to the possibility of a retrial and far steeper penalties.

Storm remains free on bail while post-trial motions are pending.

His legal team has asked the court to acquit him, arguing that Tornado Cash is a non-custodial, Immutable protocol and that writing open-source code does not amount to operating a money service.

Prosecutors have opposed that motion and have not yet said whether they will retry the deadlocked charges in 2026.

Support for Storm has grown across the crypto and tech sectors.

Developers, legal experts, and advocacy groups argue that the case conflicts with long-standing FinCEN guidance stating that non-custodial software developers are not money transmitters.

More than 65 organizations have urged President Donald TRUMP to intervene, calling the prosecution an example of “regulation by prosecution” that risks pushing innovation offshore.

Industry groups have also pointed to recent DOJ statements acknowledging that developers without ill intent should not face criminal charges simply for publishing code.

More than 65 crypto advocacy groups have called on Trump to dismiss charges in the Roman Storm retrial. #TornadoCash #RomanStormhttps://t.co/CFEEeFgEvP

The Tornado Cash sanctions themselves were lifted in 2025 after a federal appeals court ruled that the Treasury Department overstepped its authority by sanctioning immutable smart contracts.

That ruling has become a central reference point in Storm’s defense, even as prosecutors argue it does not apply to his charged conduct.