Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev has been granted conditional release from prison in the Netherlands, where he has been held since he was arrested in August 2022.
A Dutch court suspended his pretrial detention on February 6, allowing him to remain under electronic monitoring while he appeals his money laundering conviction. Pertsev, sentenced to five years and four months in 2024, argued he cannot be held liable for illicit use of the privacy-focused crypto mixing protocol.
In an announcement on X, Pertsev thanked his supporters:
Dear Friends, on Friday 7 February at 10 am I will be free! It is not real freedom, but it is better than prison. Today, a Dutch court suspended my pretrial detention under the condition of electronic monitoring. This will give me a chance to work on my appeal and fight for justice. Thank you to everyone who supported me and who made this possible!
#FreedomToCode
Tornado Cash, sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022, was accused of laundering over $7 billion, including funds tied to North Korea’s Lazarus Group.
The case has highlighted the ongoing debate over developer liability and the regulation of privacy tools in crypto.