Tornado Cash developer Alexei Burtsev has reportedly appealed the conviction in the Netherlands, a case that has sparked a broader discourse about cryptocurrency privacy.
Burtsev and his legal team, led by attorney Keith Cheng, have reportedly filed an appeal against the 64-month prison sentence for allegedly facilitating more than $2.2 billion in money laundering through the Ethereum-powered cryptocurrency mixer, Tornado Cash.
Several media agencies reported that the application was submitted to the Hertogenbosch Court of Appeal, but it remains to be seen whether the appeal has been approved at the time of publication of this report. An attempt by crypto.news to contact Burtsev's attorney for confirmation was not immediately responded to.
On May 14, a three-judge panel ruled that Burtsev created the open source privacy tool for illicit use from the beginning. Tornado Cash allows users to anonymize transactions on a public blockchain network.
According to the courtBurtsev and other key contributors should take responsibility for developing tools without protection from criminal access.
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The outcome of Burtsev's trial was met with backlash from the cryptocurrency community, with several key opinion leaders scrutinizing the ruling as a war on privacy in Europe. Many argue that this sets a dangerous precedent for future open source development.
Coin Bureau CEO and Co-Founder Nic Puckrin Looks like The ruling blames Microsoft for developing an operating system used by hackers, or charges automakers for helping to rob banks.
Privacy advocate Chris Blake He insisted on New laws are required to address emerging blockchain-based technology to protect user privacy. Industry advocates have echoed this sentiment, arguing that open source code is not a criminal offense.
A user named “Novacula Occami” offered a different view, criticizing cryptocurrency proponents for adopting a privacy-maximizing view despite the clearly criminal use of tools like Tornado Cash. “Money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud are illegal and cryptocurrencies do not pass,” so-called crypto realism books.
As the blockchain privacy debate continues and Burtsev fights his punishment in the Netherlands, crypto players in the US are eyeing the trial of another Tornado Cash co-founder, Roman Storm.
Storm is scheduled to appear in court next September over similar money laundering allegations. However, experts point out that US laws differ from Dutch legislation, and a judge for the Southern District of New York may reach a different conclusion.
Recent cases from the Department of Justice against cryptocurrency mixers and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's interpretation of money transfer policies raise questions about the potential outcomes of Storm's prosecution and other cases like Samourai Wallet.