Arbitrum DAO Withdraws $1.2 Million Support for Tornado Cash, Citing Legal Issues

Bhushan Akolkar
March 11, 2024
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An image to represent the Tornado cash case

Highlights

  • Arbitrum DAO deletes proposal of $1.2 million funding to Tornado Cash founders.
  • Arbitrum seeks other ways of funding without falling into legal issues.
  • Tornado Cash developers seek support from the DeFi community.

The individual behind an Arbitrum DAO proposal, which sought to donate up to $1.28 million in cryptocurrency to aid Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev in their legal defense against criminal charges, has withdrawn the proposal. Recent updates reveal that concerns raised by token holders regarding potential legal liabilities linked to the donation prompted the removal of the proposal.

Arbitrum Proposal to Support Tornado Cash Removed

Arbitrum contributor Joseph Axisa had put forward a proposal aimed at allocating funds to a legal defense fund for individuals facing criminal charges. However, the author has removed the proposal from the Arbitrum discourse forum, according to reports.

The proposal, disclosed on Wednesday, outlined plans to pledge between 200,000 and 600,000 ARB tokens (equivalent to approximately $400,000-$1.2 million) to support the legal defense of individuals known as Storm and Pertsev. They face charges related to their involvement in developing Tornado Cash, a smart contract protocol designed to enhance the privacy of Ethereum transactions.

Unchained reported on Friday that the proposal sought to assist Storm and Pertsev in covering their legal expenses. A third cofounder, Roman Semenov, who was also charged, remains at large.

However, by the evening of March 8, the proposal post was no longer visible on Arbitrum’s discourse forum. The exact reason for its removal and the timeline of events surrounding it remain unclear.

An Arbitrum representative also confirmed to The Block the removal of the proposal at the author’s request. Under the deleted proposal, the pledged funds totaling around $10,000 per month were suppose to go to the crowd-funding campaign of WeWantJusticeDAO, which aims to cover the substantial legal costs incurred by Storm and Pertsev. The proposed tokens were slated to be held on Juicebox, a crypto-focused fundraising platform, as outlined in the proposal documentation.

Arbitrum Community Explores Alternative Funding

Despite the removal of the initial proposal, members of ArbitrumDAO are actively considering alternative avenues to finance the legal defense of developers involved in the Tornado Cash project, a source familiar with the situation revealed.

According to the source, one potential option under discussion is directing funds to Coin Center, a prominent non-profit organization dedicated to cryptocurrency policy advocacy. Additionally, a revised version of the proposal will surface on ArbitrumDAO’s forum in the coming week, as disclosed by another source to The Block.

Since the developers’ arrests, they have garnered significant support from within the decentralized finance (DeFi) community. DeFi represents a broad segment of the cryptocurrency industry, characterized by its commitment to principles of financial autonomy and innovation, which align closely with the ethos associated with Tornado Cash and its creators.

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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Bhushan is a seasoned crypto writer with over eight years of experience spanning more than 10,000 contributions across multiple platforms like CoinGape, CoinSpeaker, Bitcoinist, Crypto News Flash, and others. Being a Fintech enthusiast, he loves reporting across Crypto, Blockchain, DeFi, Global Macros with a keen understanding in financial markets. 

He is committed to continuous learning and stays motivated by sharing the knowledge he acquires. In his free time, Bhushan enjoys reading thriller fiction novels and occasionally explores his culinary skills. Bhushan has a bachelors degree in electronics engineering, however, his interest in finance and economics drives him to crypto and blockchain.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.