Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev is set to be released from prison on February 7, 2025, under the condition of electronic monitoring. His release coincides with a sharp rally in TORN, the governance token of Tornado Cash, which has surged by more than 15% in the past 24 hours.
Partial Freedom for Pertsev
In a post on X, Pertsev announced that a Dutch court had suspended his pretrial detention, allowing him to continue his legal battle while being electronically monitored. Despite describing this as only “partial freedom,” he expressed relief at being out of prison and vowed to fight for justice.
Pertsev was sentenced to five years in prison in May 2024 for failing to prevent illicit transactions through Tornado Cash, a crypto-mixing service accused of facilitating money laundering. His conviction sparked controversy, with industry figures arguing that developers should not be held accountable for how their code is used.
Vitalik Buterin Signals Support
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin appeared to acknowledge Pertsev’s release by sharing a post citing “Milady,” a meme often associated with resilience and community solidarity. Buterin has previously voiced support for Pertsev and the broader Tornado Cash ecosystem.
TORN Token Surges Amid Release News
The news of Pertsev’s release has boosted TORN’s price, which is now trading at $12.97, marking a 15.5% gain in a single day. Despite a 6.9% weekly decline, the token has skyrocketed 43.5% over the past month.
The TORN trading volume has surged by 189% in the past 24 hours, reaching $619.81K, signaling renewed investor interest. Analysts predict further price growth, with $15 seen as the next key resistance level.
Legal Battle and Industry Impact
Pertsev’s release follows a US federal appeals court ruling in November 2024, which declared that sanctions on Tornado Cash were unlawful. This ruling added momentum to efforts challenging the crackdown on crypto privacy tools.
Meanwhile, Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm has also spoken out against the case, emphasizing its broader implications for software developers and the tech industry. The outcome of Pertsev’s continued legal battle could set a precedent for the responsibilities of blockchain developers worldwide.
With the crypto community rallying behind Pertsev, the coming months will be crucial in determining both his fate and the regulatory landscape for decentralized privacy tools.
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