This ruling has intensified concerns within the privacy-tech community. On November 21, Pertsev expressed<\/a> <\/strong>his frustration on X, noting that the court\u2019s decision to extend his detention severely hampers his ability to prepare for an appeal.<\/p>\n

The decision comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny over Tornado Cash, particularly following the service’s 2022 sanctioning. On November 14, several members of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the Treasury Department to take action against Tornado Cash, pointing out a notable increase in mixer usage. In the first half of 2024 alone, the protocol processed $1.8 billion in deposits\u2014a 45% increase compared to the entirety of 2023.<\/p>\n

Pertsev\u2019s detention stems from charges of money laundering, despite the non-custodial nature of Tornado Cash, which doesn’t control or hold users’ funds. In May, Dutch courts convicted him for allegedly laundering $1.2 billion in illicit assets through the platform, sentencing him to over five years in prison.<\/p>\n