Vitalik Buterin Donates 100 ETH to Support Tornado Cash Developer’s Legal Fund Amid Rising Deposits

On October 6, COINOTAG reported that Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has made a significant contribution of 100 ETH, approximately valued at $240,000, to support the legal defense fund for Rome Storm, a developer associated with the controversial Tornado Cash. This marks Buterin’s third donation to this fund, underscoring his commitment to the cause. The Defend Roman Storm page indicates that the fund has accumulated a total of 148 donations, summing up to over 327 ETH and amounting to around $785,000. Notably, despite facing sanctions from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and ongoing scrutiny from U.S. regulators, Tornado Cash has seen deposit activity surging to nearly $1.9 billion in the first half of 2024, reflecting a remarkable 50% increase compared to the total deposits for the previous year.