Defend the right to privacy in Web3

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URGENT UPDATE: On August 23, 2023, Roman Storm — the US-based co-founder of Tornado Cash — was arrested despite his ongoing cooperation with the US Department of Justice.This arrest happened almost exactly 1 year after the arrest of Alex Pertsev — another Tornado Cash co-founder — by the Dutch authorities, following the August 8, 2022, sanctions imposted against TC by the U. S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).The arrests of Roman Storm and Alex Pertsev are considered a direct attack on the open-source development space and may have devastating consequences for developers who write and publish code. This is why we need to act NOW to protect our right to code.

Thank you for your willingness to contribute to this important cause.

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Who we are

We at JusticeDAO, Inc. («JusticeDAO») are on the frontlines of the defense effort in legal matters related to Tornado Cash. We have engaged an international team of legal counsel to represent the original TC protocol developers, specifically — Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm.

In order to ensure the necessary resources are available, we have made arrangements to receive donations from those who wish to contribute to the effort, including in cryptocurrency and fiat currency.

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Why is this so important?

Open source is not a crime

How can I help?

Make a donation

If you would like to make a contribution towards our cause in defending the right to privacy and the right to publish code, please donate here. Any funds remaining after the payment of all attorneys’ fees and costs will be used to fund initiatives advocating for the right to privacy in Web3.

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Defend the right to privacy in Web3

Community feedback

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𝒜𝓇𝒾𝓈 🖋@ArisvdZ

Just signed this petition to #FreeAlekseyPertsev.

What is really disturbing in this story is that there is no clear charges by the @FIOD

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/Rx84qwd8 from @Change

rdm41@RDM_41

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - ¡Firma la petición! https://chng.it/B2fwyJSH vía @ChangeorgLatino

Lex@lexmartin101

Open-source development is in danger. Take action before it’s too late! #OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/kC4466mG via @Change

bloXmove harry@HBloxmove

I stay out of politics. But arresting someone for writing open source code which enhances privacy is a step towards though control #OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev” - Jetzt unterschreiben! https://chng.it/SLDTNTwW via @ChangeGER

Игорь Престолов@nepsse

Теперь сажают за открытый код, который использовали третьи лица. Свобода и демократия от США и Голландии.#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/4bfVMWNR через @Change

bill@bill0x2a

Open-source devs should never be be prosecuted simply for the potential misuse of their code, and it won‘t stop here. #OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev

n4n0 (ultraviolent to infradead)@n4n084191635

Oh hey look, this sounds like a perfectly fine and legal usecase for @TornadoCash: not getting mugged. Wow. #FreeAlex #FreePertsev #OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime

TheBlackWolfPack@TheBlackWolfPa1

Weit haben wir es gebracht... jetzt sperrt man schon Leute dafür ein was Andere mit einem Stück quelloffener Software tun!

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Jetzt unterschreiben! https://chng.it/w4XMYq55 via @Change

Marc Jansen@jansen_marc

Guys, this is really important!

„Open-source development is in danger. Take action before it‘s too late! #OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev” - Jetzt unterschreiben! https://chng.it/q7QqKBVt via @ChangeGER

pino7 ᵍᵐ@pinoweb3

I signed

If you are in Amsterdam the 20th there will be a protest in Dam Square
#TornadoCash
#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev

Jelly@0xJelly

Open-source developers should not be jailed for building a public good. If you agree, sign this petition for Aleksey Pertsev!
#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/jK48SbB2 via @UKChange

Klaudy.eth 🦇🔊 🛡️@KristinaKlaudy1

Open-source developer was arrested for writting a code (not even executing it) for Tornadocash.

Writting shouldn‘t be elegal!

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/cMY7pKVY @Change

Livster 🌊🏆@0xLivster

A developer has been arrested for writing open-source code. At the base level, someone has been incriminated for writing and publishing. This is a threat to all of us.
#FreeAlex #PrivacyNotACrime
#FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition: https://chng.it/vmFMBv7c via @Change

Yezz123@THyasser1

Open-source development is in danger. Take action before it‘s too late!
#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/rWQ4VPP4 via @Change

Alex Karengin (art_alternator)@AAlternator

I think, this is really important. Open-source development is in danger.
#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition!

stango.lens🦇🔊 0085.stark@S3rumTruth

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/WwxFXwYT via @Change

rdm41@RDM_41

Ethereum Fear and Greed Index@EthereumFear

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev

𝒜𝓇𝒾𝓈 🖋@ArisvdZ

rdm41@RDM_41

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - ¡Firma la petición! https://chng.it/B2fwyJSH vía @ChangeorgLatino

Lex@lexmartin101

bloXmove harry@HBloxmove

Игорь Престолов@nepsse

bill@bill0x2a

n4n0 (ultraviolent to infradead)@n4n084191635

Oh hey look, this sounds like a perfectly fine and legal usecase for @TornadoCash: not getting mugged. Wow. #FreeAlex #FreePertsev #OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime

TheBlackWolfPack@TheBlackWolfPa1

Marc Jansen@jansen_marc

pino7 ᵍᵐ@pinoweb3

I signed

If you are in Amsterdam the 20th there will be a protest in Dam Square
#TornadoCash
#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev

Jelly@0xJelly

Klaudy.eth 🦇🔊 🛡️@KristinaKlaudy1

Livster 🌊🏆@0xLivster

Yezz123@THyasser1

Alex Karengin (art_alternator)@AAlternator

I think, this is really important. Open-source development is in danger.
#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition!

stango.lens🦇🔊 0085.stark@S3rumTruth

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev - Sign the Petition! https://chng.it/WwxFXwYT via @Change

rdm41@RDM_41

Ethereum Fear and Greed Index@EthereumFear

#OpenSourceNotACrime #PrivacyNotACrime #FreeAlex #freepertsev #FreeAlekseyPertsev

Defend the rightto privacy in Web3

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Tornado Cash is an open-source decentralized protocol that enhances privacy for cryptocurrencies on the Ethereum blockchain. The service makes it possible for users to transfer digital assets from one account to another without recording an obvious link between accounts on the public blockchain. Tornado Cash receives various transactions and adds an extra layer of privacy protection before transmitting them to their individual recipients. Tornado’s purpose is to bring privacy to the blockchain.

All information about transactions in the blockchain network is available to any user. Imagine if everyone could look into any bank account in the world and see all bank transfers. How much does your neighbor earn? Or a work colleague. People prefer not to disclose personal data and especially how much money they keep in bank accounts. The business is not ready to share information on what amounts of transactions are concluded. Also, for personal or socio-political reasons, it may be essential to remain anonymous if you want to send a donation. For example, the co-founders of Ethereum Vitaly Buterin used Tornado Cash for donations for the needs of Ukraine. But in the blockchain network, all this is impossible, every payment can be tracked. Therefore, Tornado Cash was developed to ensure the privacy of transactions.

TC is an open source software program that uses smart contracts and a cryptographic method known as zero-knowledge proof to enable users to conduct private transactions on the blockchain. This is the first time that OFAC has attempted to treat software code like an entity or person that can be sanctioned. This has raised a number of legal issues that are the subject of ongoing debate.

The OFAC’s designation of Tornado Cash as a «sanctioned entity» in 2022 has since resulted in several lawsuits filed against OFAC on behalf of Coinbase employees and others, challenging the sanctions on a number of grounds (Van Loon, et al v. Treasury). Coinbase has since taken the case to appellate court, and a number of advocacy groups, such as the Blockchain Association, have supported the action by filing amicus briefsin the Fifth Circuit.

Additionally, Coin Center sued OFAC over its TC sanctions in 2022, claiming " the agency exceeded its statutory authority by sanctioning Tornado Cash" (Coin Center, et al v. Secretary, U. S. Department of the Treasury, et al). On November 7, 2023, Coin Center also filed an appeal in the U. S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.

Roman Storm was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (max sentence of 20 years in prison), one count of conspiracy to Operate an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business (max sentence of 5 years in prison), and one count of conspiracy to violate the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (max sentence of 20 years in prison). More info on the charges and defense costs here.

Alexey was arrested on August 10, 2022, which was 2 days after the US OFAC sanctioned Tornado Cash. He spent 8 months in prison before being released on bail in April 2023. His trial took place on March 26, 2024. On May 14, 2024, Alexey Pertsev was found guilty of money laundering by a Dutch court and received a maximum sentence of 64 months in prison. He is now appealing the court’s decision and accepting donations via WeWantJusticeDAO.org.

Defend the right to privacy in Web3

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Who we are