The DeFi Education Fund has petitioned the Trump administration to halt what it calls the "lawless prosecution" of open-source software developers — specifically citing Roman Storm, the co-founder of the crypto privacy tool Tornado Cash.
Petition Calls for Protection of Open-Source Crypto Developers
In an April 28 letter addressed to White House crypto czar David Sacks, the DeFi Education Fund urged President Donald Trump to end the Biden-era Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutions targeting crypto developers.
“We ask President Trump to protect American software developers, restore legal clarity, and end this unlawful DOJ overreach,” the letter stated.
The group emphasized that prosecuting developers for how others use open-source software sets a dangerous precedent that could freeze innovation across the U.S. tech and crypto sectors.
Roman Storm’s Case: A Symbol of Broader Risks
Roman Storm was charged in August 2023 for allegedly helping to launder over $1 billion through Tornado Cash. His trial is set for July, while his fellow co-founder Roman Semenov remains at large in Russia.
- The DeFi Education Fund argues that the DOJ's case violates principles established by FinCEN during Trump's first term, which clarified that self-custodial developers are not money transmitters.
- The letter warned that the current legal environment could chill all crypto development in the United States.
Growing Industry Support for the Petition
At the time of writing, the petition has already gathered 232 signatures, including from:
- Fred Ehrsam (Coinbase co-founder)
- Matt Huang (Paradigm co-founder)
- Tim Beiko (Ethereum core developer)
Legal experts like Jake Chervinsky have also criticized the ongoing prosecution as an "outdated remnant" of the Biden administration's war on crypto.
Stakes High for U.S. Crypto Innovation
The DeFi Education Fund warned that unless action is taken, America's goal of becoming the "crypto capital of the planet," as Trump has pledged, will remain out of reach.
“The stakes could not be higher,” the group stressed, calling for immediate regulatory clarity and protection for open-source development.
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