Vitalik Buterin Defends Tornado Cash Developer, Backs Privacy Rights

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published a letter in support of Roman Storm, a developer of the privacy protocol Tornado Cash. In an X post on Friday, he shared a letter advocating for software freedom and personal privacy rights. 

Buterin’s intervention comes at a decisive moment in Storm’s legal case, as the developer seeks public support to demonstrate community backing against charges related to his software development.

https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin/status/2009518473173512379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

Defending open-source code

In his letter, Buterin pushed back against the idea that developing privacy-enhancing code should constitute a crime. He argued that the codes are crucial for ensuring human rights in the modern online era.

The main focus of the letter is Buterin’s public support for Storm, whom he called a principled and dedicated developer. Buterin said he has long supported Storm’s work and has actively used the privacy tools he created. 

He highlighted that he has used the software for transactions, including buying software and donating to charities, without having his identity recorded in corporate databases. Buterin also praised the technical quality of the applications, noting they remained functional even years after Storm stopped working on them, which he views as a rare achievement in modern technology.

Community support campaign

Roman Storm has recently appealed to the community, saying his fight for freedom and the future of open-source software is at a critical stage. He pointed out that prosecutors have claimed that writing code is a crime and have equated privacy tools with money laundering. 

In response, he started a campaign encouraging supporters to take five minutes to write letters, demonstrating that the crypto community stands united. Storm believes that “Privacy is a human right” and “Math is not a crime.”

Risks of privacy loss

In terms of future implications, Buterin’s letter also cautioned against a world lacking privacy, which could lead to social, commercial, or physical exploitation. He asserted that having the choice of whom to share personal information, communications, and financial details with is essential.

Buterin disputed the idea that governments and intelligence agencies should have unrestricted access to all data. He also pointed out that government databases are often compromised, and private companies frequently sell user data to dangerous foreign entities. Without privacy protections, he warned, there are risks of slipping into manipulation.

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