The Ethereum Foundation has committed $1.25 million to aid the legal defense of Alexey Pertsev, the Tornado Cash developer, as he prepares to challenge his money laundering conviction in the Netherlands. The Foundation emphasized that “privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime” in their public statement announcing the contribution. Pertsev, who is focusing on his appeal following his release from prison earlier in February, expressed profound gratitude for the support, highlighting that it allows him to dedicate his full attention to the legal proceedings. Pertsev, a Russian national living in the Netherlands, faced legal challenges following his arrest in August 2022. Convicted of money laundering by a Dutch court in May 2024, he was sentenced to five years and four months in prison. The story is ongoing, and further developments are expected.
