Argentine blockchain developer “Fede’s Intern” has donated $500,000 to support the legal defense of Roman Storm, the co-founder of Tornado Cash.
In his tweet, the blockchain developer revealed that his decision to support Storm stems from a desire to protect the freedom to innovate and push boundaries in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.
Fede’s Intern warned that failing to defend innovators and developers in the space would effectively halt future growth and innovation. He stated, “Roman’s legal defense matters because builders everywhere need to know they can push innovation forward and that the community will stand behind them when they do.”
The tweet also added that the Ethereum Foundation will be making a similar donation of up to $500,000, effectively doubling the contribution to Roman Storm’s defense fund.
Developer Released After 24-Hour Detention
Fede Intern’s generous contribution is a surprising display of solidarity after the ordeal the developer went through recently at the hands of the Turkish authorities.
On August 10, the blockchain developer mentioned that he was detained in Turkey after arriving in Izmir to meet with local businessmen and work on a DeFi project. Following a 24-hour detention, he was released on Monday and took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce his freedom and share his ordeal.
According to Fede’s intern, Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs accused him of helping others “misuse Ethereum, allegedly related to a privacy protocol. Despite initial restrictions on his phone and communication, he was able to contact a Turkish attorney with the help of local friends.
The situation escalated, but prominent figures in various countries and organizations intervened to help secure his release. The blockchain developer denied the allegations, stating that his work was purely research-based and aimed at de-anonymizing users in a mixer protocol. He plans to clear his name and continue his work in cryptography, cybersecurity, and AI.
In a show of gratitude for his release, Fede’s Intern decided to support Storm’s legal battle, increasing the amount from $50,000, which he had previously planned to donate, to $500,000.
Storm Faces Money Laundering Charges
In May, the United States Department of Justice sued Storm on suspicion of involvement in money laundering schemes and unlicensed business activities worth about $1 billion.
A few months later, the Tornado Cash co-founder was found guilty of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, facing up to five years in prison. The news caused the value of the platform’s native token TORN to suffer a 27% drop.
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