GoFundMe, a widely-used crowdfunding platform, has removed a fundraiser aimed at providing legal aid for Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm, co-founder and developer of Tornado Cash, due to a violation.
Ryan Adams, an investor with Bankless Ventures, shared news of the fundraiser’s removal in a February 15 post on X (formerly Twitter), informing the digital asset community of the latest developments.
Adams highlighted that GoFundMe had taken down the campaign and refunded the donations made to Pertsev and Storm.
On February 14, GoFundMe closed the fundraiser citing an alleged violation of its terms of service and returned the contributed funds to the donors.
The platform referred to a breach of Term 22, which encompasses activities deemed objectionable by GoFundMe, any actions that could impede others from using the platform, or activities that may result in legal liability for the platform, its users, or its employees.
Crypto Users Criticize the Decision Against Tornado Cash
The campaign account representing both individuals issued a statement to users, expressing that GoFundMe’s invocation of Term 22 could simply imply their disapproval of the campaign.
“In an important campaign update, @gofundme informed us that the fundraiser for @rstormsf’s legal defense has been canceled. They cited Term 22 of their terms of service, which could be interpreted as indicating their mere dislike for the fundraiser.”
Adams, anticipating such actions, mentioned the availability of crypto alternatives for contributing to the campaign.
He revealed the team’s decision to resend the $10,000 previously donated to the cause, emphasizing the importance of having an uncensorable monetary system to support civil liberties such as the right to a fair trial.
The platform’s decision to terminate the donations without providing a clear justification drew criticism from cryptocurrency users.
Some users viewed it as a hindrance to freedoms, while others highlighted the risks associated with centralization, expressing a desire for more decentralized donation options.
Tornado Cash in Regulatory Web
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has levied charges against Storm, accusing him of facilitating money laundering. Additionally, the SEC alleges that Tornado Cash aided the notorious Lazarus Group in circumventing US sanctions. Pertsev, who was arrested in the Netherlands in 2022 on money laundering charges, was subsequently released from prison pending trial.
In a recent video posted on X, Storm appealed to the crypto community for support in covering legal expenses incurred in battling the DOJ. Expressing a mix of fear and hope, he urged donations towards his legal defense, emphasizing the significance of 2024 in shaping his future.
Despite aiming to raise $1.5 million, Storm and Pertsev only managed to gather $30,000 before GoFundMe terminated their campaign. They have since turned to the digital asset crowdfunding platform JuiceBox to continue raising funds towards their target.
In a similar vein, Canadian protesters resorted to Bitcoin (BTC) in 2022 after GoFundMe shut down their campaign challenging Covid-19 restrictions. GoFundMe has announced its intention to refund $9 million to donors who contributed to the Freedom Convoy Campaign.
