Solana Policy Institute Donates $500K to Tornado Co-founders Storm and Pertsev

The Solana Policy Institute, a nonprofit advocacy group for the Solana ecosystem, has pledged $500,000 to support the legal defense of Tornado Cash co-founders Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev. The donation adds to a growing pool of funds from across the crypto industry aimed at challenging the convictions of the developers behind the controversial privacy protocol.

Storm was found guilty earlier this month of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, while Pertsev was convicted in 2024 of money laundering for his role in Tornado Cash’s development. The protocol, designed to allow users to obscure the origin and destination of their digital assets, has been at the center of legal and regulatory debates over crypto privacy.

The Solana Policy Institute confirmed its commitment in a statement on Thursday, saying the money would help cover Storm’s post-trial motions and Pertsev’s appeal process.

Millions Raised Through Community Efforts

The crypto community has already mobilized significant resources. The “Free Roman Storm” fund has raised $5.5 million so far, leaving it just $1.5 million short of its target. Storm himself made a public appeal in July, posting on X that he needed an additional $1.5 million to keep up with legal expenses.

Support has come from multiple corners of the ecosystem. Ethereum core developer Federico Carrone pledged $500,000 shortly after being released from detention in Turkey earlier this month. The Ethereum Foundation has also committed heavily, donating $500,000 in June and promising to match up to $750,000 in community contributions. After Storm’s conviction, the Foundation doubled down, offering another $500,000 in matching funds.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin contributed two donations totaling 150 Ether—valued at over $673,000 at current prices—further underscoring the high-profile backing behind Storm’s legal fight.

Storm Receives Broader Industry Support

Beyond Ethereum leaders, other groups and individuals have stepped forward. In July, Meta Cartel DAO announced it had emptied its entire treasury to aid Storm’s defense, while Julian Zawistowski, founder of the Golem project, confirmed a donation of 50 Ether, worth around $224,000.

Venture capital firm Paradigm also pledged $1.25 million in January. Co-founder Matt Huang warned at the time that holding developers accountable for how third parties use open-source software could have a “chilling effect” on innovation within crypto and beyond.

With contributions now spanning multiple blockchain communities, Storm and Pertsev’s legal battles are shaping up to be a defining moment in how courts treat developers of decentralized privacy tools.

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