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Crypto mixer developer Tornado Cash is sentenced to 64 months in prison
A Dutch court has sentenced Alexey Pertsev, the developer of cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, to 64 months in prison for his role in money laundering activities.
The ruling has sparked discussions about the legal liability of individuals who create open source financial privacy tools.
Pertsev’s conviction is particularly notable as it comes at a time when crypto mixers are under intense scrutiny for their role in obscuring the origins of digital currency transactions.
Tornado Cash, which faced US sanctions in August 2022, is accused of facilitating the laundering of large funds by cybercriminals, including North Korean hackers.
Pertsev was arrested on August 10, 2022, after Tornado Cash was sanctioned by the United States for allegedly enabling the concealment of nearly $1.2 billion in illegal funds.
The crypto community has criticized the lawsuits, defending the position that developers should not be held liable for how their open source software is used.
The repercussions of this case are not limited to the Netherlands, as the United States has also demonstrated a strong approach against crypto mixers.
That of the Department of Justice recent The arrest of Samourai Wallet’s co-founders points to a broader international effort to crack down on privacy-enhancing cryptographic technologies.
Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of privacy-focused crypto wallet Samourai Wallet, was granted release on a $1 million bond last month.