Ethereum Developer Virgil Griffith Released After More Than Five Years in Prison

Griffith became the center of an international scandal in 2019 when he gave a talk titled “Blockchain and Peace” at a conference in North Korea. In his presentation, he described how blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies could be used to circumvent sanctions. The talk led to charges of violating the US International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In 2021, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than five years in prison.

Before the incident, Griffith was a key player in the Ethereum ecosystem, a member of the Ethereum Foundation, and an active contributor to the network’s technical development. His arrest sparked a broad debate in the crypto community, from questions about freedom of information to the tension between technological progress and international politics.

Vitalik Buterin, one of the founders of Ethereum, publicly supported Griffith and tried to secure his release. However, these efforts did not change the court’s decision. Moreover, the US Department of Commerce imposed a ten-year ban on Griffith’s technology exports, which severely restricts his participation in international technical initiatives without special permission.

Despite his release from prison, his path to complete freedom is not yet complete. Under government control, he will not be able to freely choose his field of employment. Meanwhile, Griffith’s supporters continue to hope for a presidential pardon that could lift the remaining restrictions. His case has become a precedent in the history of cryptocurrencies, showing how thin the line is between innovation and international law.