Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly defended Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, who faces up to five years in prison after being convicted of conspiring to commit illegal money transmission. In an open letter, Buterin emphasized the importance of privacy tools like Tornado Cash, arguing they are essential for protecting personal data against systemic exploitation. He highlighted his own use of such tools for purchasing technology and supporting human rights causes. Buterin's support extends beyond words, as he has contributed 50 Ethereum to Storm's legal defense fund, which has amassed over $6.3 million with backing from the Ethereum Foundation and other supporters. The case against Storm, who co-founded the non-custodial cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, is part of a broader crackdown on privacy-focused crypto tools, with U.S. authorities alleging the mixer was used to launder over $1 billion in illegal funds. The legal pressure on privacy tool developers is intensifying globally, with other developers facing similar charges. Advocacy groups are calling for legislative protections for software developers, emphasizing that writing code should not be criminalized. Meanwhile, the Ethereum Foundation and other organizations continue to rally support for Storm and his co-developers.