Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, continues to stand in solidarity with Tornado Cash developers Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm amidst their legal battle over allegations of money laundering.

Recently, on May 8, Buterin made a substantial donation of 30 ETH, equivalent to roughly $113,000, to the Juicebox campaign titled 'Free Alexey & Roman.' This gesture underscores Buterin's unwavering support for Pertsev and Storm in their legal ordeal.

Expressing his disappointment over the verdict of their case, Buterin emphasized the importance of defending privacy rights. He voiced his sentiments during the DappCon event in Berlin, lamenting Pertsev's 64-month prison sentence as "really unfortunate." According to Buterin, developing software aimed at enhancing privacy should be considered a legitimate endeavor, not a criminal offense.

The Dutch court's ruling against Pertsev, finding him guilty of money laundering through the Tornado Cash software he helped develop, has raised significant concerns within the crypto community. This verdict also has broader implications for Storm, who is facing similar charges in the United States.

Despite facing regulatory scrutiny, Buterin remains optimistic about the future, expressing hope for "positive clarity" in Storm's upcoming trial in the U.S. He advocates for privacy rights not only for those engaged in lawful activities but also for the broader population.

Buterin's stance aligns with his longstanding support for privacy-centric cryptocurrency tools. He has consistently championed the development of innovative solutions such as Railgun and 0xbow, emphasizing the importance of privacy as a fundamental right.

Buterin's donation to the Tornado Cash legal defense fund has garnered attention from other privacy advocates, including prominent figure Edward Snowden. The former NSA whistleblower has publicly endorsed the fundraiser, denouncing the case against Tornado Cash as "deeply illiberal and profoundly authoritarian."

Snowden echoes Buterin's sentiments, asserting that "privacy is not a crime." The campaign has received additional contributions in ETH from various donors, reflecting a collective effort to support Pertsev and Storm in their legal battle.

As of the latest update, the Free Alexey & Roman campaign has raised a total of 559.81 ETH, equivalent to approximately $2 million, showcasing the community's solidarity in defending privacy rights in the digital age.