The post Tornado Cash Developer Alexey Pertsev Funds Legal Defense appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Alexey Pertsev, a developer for Tornado Cash, is raising funds for his legal defense in the Netherlands, sparking concerns about the criminalization of open-source software.  Pertsev is seeking financial support to aid his legal battle following his conviction. On August 10, Pertsev publicly appealed for financial assistance via a video on X (formerly Twitter).  He hopes to gather between $750,000 and $1 million to cover his legal fees. A support account on X highlighted the substantial resources backing the government’s prosecution against him. The campaign calls for supporters to donate Ethereum through Juicebox, a decentralized fundraising platform. Pertsev’s team emphasizes that his fight is not just for personal freedom but also for the broader principles of privacy and open-source software development.  The campaign message states, “If you believe developers shouldn’t face jail time for their code, please consider donating ETH.” Early reactions from the crypto community have been encouraging.  The “Defend Alexey” fundraiser on Juicebox has already raised 15.35 Ethereum, valued at over $40,000. Privacy researcher Ameen Soleimani has also launched a limited edition NFT collection to help fund Pertsev’s legal expenses. These efforts build on past support from the crypto community. Notably, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin donated over $100,000 to support Pertsev and Roman Storm, who is currently detained in the US.  Privacy advocates and blockchain experts closely watch Pertsev’s case, worried about the implications for developers if others misuse their open-source code. The case raises concerns about holding developers liable for others misusing their code. Daniel Buchner, Head of Decentralized Identity at Block, argues that developers shouldn’t face criminal or civil penalties for how their open-source software is used.  “That Alex’s code was primarily used for shitcoins is irrelevant; everyone who cares about justice and human freedom must fight the insane, authoritarian idea that people using open-source software…

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Filed under: News - @ August 14, 2024 8:28 am