Ethereum Foundation and Keyring Network Launch Legal Defense Fund
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) and Keyring Network have partnered to create a legal defense fund. It supports Tornado Cash creators Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev. Both face criminal charges for developing privacy software.
The fund is part of Keyring’s Developer Legal Defense Fund. It aims to protect open-source developers from criminal liability for building privacy tools. According to the official portal, it offers financial and structural support to developers at legal risk.
The fund operates through zkVerified vaults on Avalanche and Ethereum. Users can deposit USDC, earn yield, and direct protocol fees earned over two months to the fund. Access requires a brief private verification via Keyring Connect.
As of October 10, 2025, the fund has raised $22,109.52. All proceeds will support the defense of Storm, Pertsev, and Tornado Cash legal efforts.
Tornado Cash Developers’ Legal Cases
Roman Storm was convicted by a Manhattan federal jury on August 7, 2025. He faces charges of conspiracy to run an unlicensed money transmitting business, with a maximum sentence of five years. The jury did not reach a verdict on conspiracy to commit money laundering or violating U.S. sanctions. Prosecutors say Tornado Cash enabled laundering over $1 billion, including funds linked to North Korean hackers. Storm’s defense says he never controlled Tornado Cash’s use.
Alexey Pertsev was convicted in May 2024 in the Netherlands and sentenced to 64 months in prison. He has been released pending appeal. In February 2025, the Ethereum Foundation donated $1.25 million for Pertsev’s defense. The EF stated, “privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime.” The foundation also offered to match up to $500,000 in community donations for Storm’s appeal.
Significance of the Legal Defense Fund
The Ethereum Foundation’s involvement marks a new phase in developer advocacy. It moves beyond donations by embedding legal defense into decentralized finance. This creates a sustainable system to protect developer rights.
Roman Storm is preparing his appeal. Alexey Pertsev continues his legal fight. These cases could shape the future of privacy tools and developer liability in blockchain. The EF and Keyring’s fund supports the principle that coding for privacy is not a crime.
