Alexey Pertsev, a developer behind the Tornado Cash crypto mixing service, is asking for financial help as he faces a legal battle against a government prosecution with extensive resources.
Pertsev’s support team has shared that he has run out of money and needs between $750,000 and $1 million to continue his legal battle. The team stressed the importance of standing by Pertsev, saying, “It’s time to take a stand with Alexey and fight for what’s right.”
However, the crypto community has been supportive of Pertsev and his co-developer Roman Storm, who both face charges of money laundering, breaking sanctions, and running an unlicensed money-transmitting business through Tornado Cash.
This support has led to the creation of JusticeDAO, a group aimed at raising funds for their defense. By June 19, JusticeDAO had raised over 654 Ether (ETH), worth about $2.3 million at the time, through a campaign called “Free Alexey & Roman” on the decentralized platform Juicebox.
Despite raising a good amount, the costs of Pertsev’s legal defense are still high. But JusticeDAO has continued its efforts, collecting another 70 ETH. The group has been transparent, sharing a public spreadsheet that shows $1.39 million was spent on legal fees between December 2023 and May 2024.
But still, Pertsev’s situation remains difficult. He is still in jail after being denied bail, and his lawyers are working on an appeal against the money laundering charges. His defense has been made even harder because the court has not allowed him to use a computer to prepare for his appeal.
In March, the ‘s-Hertogenbosch Court of Appeal in the Netherlands sentenced Pertsev to five years and four months in prison after finding him guilty of laundering $1.2 billion through Tornado Cash.
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