Tornado Cash founders receive financial support of $500K from Solana Policy Institute for their ongoing legal battles
Support for Tornado Cash Developers Grows Amid Legal Concerns
In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, developers are facing growing concerns about the potential legal implications of their work, particularly in the crypto space. This is evident in the ongoing legal battles of Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, both involved in the Tornado Cash scandal.
Several organisations and initiatives have stepped forward to provide financial and legal support for the defendants. Among the first was the Solana Policy Institute (SPI), which pledged funds for Roman Storm's legal defense back in 2024. SPI focuses on supporting developers in the realm of cryptotechnology.
Another initiative, FreeAlexey, is a community-driven effort advocating for Alexey Pertsev, the Tornado Cash developer currently in Dutch custody. The initiative has organised fundraising campaigns to cover legal costs.
A Defence Fund for Alexey Pertsev was also announced on Kraken's blog, with support coming from the cryptocommunity. The aim is to provide legal aid for Pertsev.
Coin Center, a non-profit organisation that has previously advocated for the rights of Bitcoin and cryptodevelopers, has also shown support for Storm and Pertsev, albeit not providing direct financial assistance.
Numerous anonymous and well-known cryptocurrency users have collected donations through platforms like GoFundMe, Gitcoin, or specialized crypto-wallets to cover legal expenses.
As of September 2025, no prominent individuals or influential figures have been publicly known to have contributed substantial sums to Storm and Pertsev. Support primarily comes from the cryptofriendly tech community and organisations with an interest in decentralisation and developer freedom.
The Solana Policy Institute has expressed concern that the Tornado Cash cases threaten open-source development. Observers note that cases like this are reshaping how developers approach risk, with many questioning whether releasing tools as open-source or 'openly licensed' tools was a mistake.
Alexey Pertsev was found guilty in a Dutch court in 2024 of money laundering connected to Tornado Cash's software. Other organisations in the crypto space, such as Meta Cartel DAO and the Golem project, have also donated to support Storm's legal defense.
The Free Roman Storm Fund has raised over $5.5 million, with much of the funding coming from prominent figures in Ethereum development, organisational networks, and the investment community. Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin donated 150 ETH (~$673,000) to support Tornado Cash cofounders' legal defense.
The U.S. Department of Justice has stated it would not target developers of genuinely decentralized software that cannot control or hold users' funds. However, the Solana Policy Institute warns that the government's theory could force developers to create code serving government interests.
FSBTech, a prominent provider of software for the online gambling industry, believes a conviction of Roman Storm could make it impossible to launch new virtual currencies. The funding will be used for Storm's post-trial motions and Pertsev's appeal.
Transparency is a challenge due to the decentralised and anonymous nature of much of the funding. Regularly checking the official channels of the mentioned organisations and crypto news portals like CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, and Decrypt is recommended to stay updated.
