TLDR
- Solana Policy Institute pledged $500K for Tornado Cash developers’ legal defenses after convictions in the U.S. and Netherlands.
- Roman Storm was convicted in Manhattan for operating an illegal money transmitting business, facing up to five years in prison.
- Alexey Pertsev was sentenced to more than five years in the Netherlands after being found guilty of money laundering.
- Over 114 crypto firms urged Congress to exempt decentralized developers from liability tied to Tornado Cash-related prosecutions.
The Solana Policy Institute has pledged $500,000 to support the appeals of Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev. The donation arrives at a critical moment as both men challenge convictions related to operating Ethereum’s coin mixing service. The cases have raised major concerns about the future of decentralized software development.
Solana Policy Institute’s $500K Donation
The Solana Policy Institute announced Thursday that it would provide $500,000 toward legal defenses for the two developers. Roman Storm was convicted this month in New York for operating an illegal money transmitting business. He faces up to five years in prison. Alexey Pertsev was sentenced last year in the Netherlands to over five years for money laundering.
The group said these cases set a dangerous precedent. Its leadership stressed that punishing developers for building neutral tools could discourage innovation. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, CEO of the institute, stated that prosecutions of this kind fundamentally alter developers’ risk calculations. The donation represents Solana’s willingness to support Ethereum-based projects, despite historical competition between the two ecosystems.
Growing Concerns in the Crypto Industry
Furthermore, the convictions of Storm and Pertsev have fueled broader concerns across the crypto and tech communities. Many industry leaders worry that criminalizing open-source development could impact software engineers well beyond blockchain. Advocates argue that the charges target the act of coding rather than criminal activity itself.
The crypto sector has repeatedly warned of lasting consequences if convictions stand. More than 100 crypto companies and lobbying groups recently signed a letter to the Senate Banking Committee. They demanded legal protections for decentralized software developers in any upcoming legislation. Without such safeguards, groups warned they would oppose future bills.
DOJ’s Shifting Approach
In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice appears to be reconsidering its approach. Although the Trump administration has generally promoted pro-crypto policies, prosecutors continued pursuing cases against Storm. The charges originated under the Biden administration in 2023.
At the same time, a senior DOJ official signaled a change in direction. Speaking to crypto leaders, the official said the department would no longer seek similar charges against developers of “truly decentralized” platforms. This stance could influence Storm’s appeal, though it remains unclear whether the shift represents a permanent policy change.
Divisions and Unity Across Blockchain Communities
Even so, debates within the crypto community have become more pronounced. Some questioned whether Solana advocates would support Ethereum-based developers like Storm and Pertsev. Critics argued that industry divisions could prevent a united defense of software creators.
Building on that, the Solana Policy Institute’s contribution seeks to counter such criticism. By providing financial backing, it reinforces a message of solidarity across blockchain ecosystems. The move also reflects the group’s broader commitment to defending open-source development. Whether this will sway public perception or future legal outcomes remains uncertain.
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