Vitalik Buterin Backs Roman Storm Ahead of Sentencing; TORN Holds $11

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published a letter on Friday formally backing Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, who faces up to five years in prison following a mixed verdict conviction in August 2025. The intervention comes just two weeks before Storm’s January 22 sentencing, a date widely viewed as a bellwether for the legal liability of open-source code authors.

The Argument: Privacy, Not Crime

Buterin’s letter dismantles the prosecution’s narrative that privacy tools are inherently criminal. Instead, he positions Tornado Cash as essential infrastructure for personal safety in an era of pervasive surveillance. He disclosed his own use of the protocol to donate to human rights charities and purchase technical tools without exposing his identity to corporate or state databases.

“If someone has information about you, they have the power to exploit you, socially, commercially, or even physically.”

The defense argues that Storm, who was convicted of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, merely wrote code that was later misused by third parties like the Lazarus Group. Notably, the jury deadlocked on the more severe charges of money laundering and sanctions violations, leading to a partial mistrial on those counts.

Market & Legal Context

The letter arrives as Storm’s defense fund reportedly tops $6.3 million, backed by significant contributions from the Ethereum Foundation and industry heavyweights. Despite the high-profile support, Tornado Cash (TORN) reacted mutely to the news, slipping 1.5% to $11.61, while Ethereum (ETH) hovered around $3,120.

Legal analysts suggest the sentencing will set a critical precedent. A harsh sentence could accelerate the exodus of privacy-focused developers from the U.S., while a lenient one might signal that the judiciary distinguishes between software creation and illicit financial facilitation. Storm remains free on bail until the hearing.