Former Ethereum Foundation developer Virgil Griffith has been released from prison on parole after serving 63 months for violating US sanctions.
Griffith, known for his contributions to the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), pleaded guilty to sanctions violations in 2021 after giving a presentation called “Blockchains for Peace” in North Korea.
Virgil Griffith Released From Prison
Griffith was sentenced to 63 months in a US prison in 2022 after US prosecutors said he violated sanctions laws. The Ethereum Foundation developer had given a presentation called “Blockchains for Peace” in North Korea. According to prosecutors, Griffith presented technical advice on using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade sanctions. Griffith pleaded guilty to sanctions violations in 2021 and US District Judge Kevin reduced his sentence to 56 months.
Griffith joined the Ethereum Foundation in 2016 and is well-known in the community for his work on the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) and other protocol-level improvements. He will temporarily reside in a halfway house before entering the parole phase. However, the parole phase will include some work restrictions. Griffith has previously held several significant roles in the Ethereum Foundation. A return to the crypto industry could see the developer get involved in advisory roles to enhance the protocol security against threats such as those posed by North Korea’s dreaded Lazarus Group.
Time With The Ethereum Foundation
Griffith is known for his time with the Ethereum Foundation, which he joined in 2016. He is well known for his early work on the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) and other protocol-level improvements. Griffith holds a Ph.D. in computation and neural systems from Caltech and has also launched WikiScanner, a tool to track Wikipedia edits. He has also worked with cryptographer Aaron Swartz to create Tor2web, an interface that facilitates access to hidden TOR websites via regular web browsers.
The Charges Against Griffith
Griffith was arrested after authorities alleged he provided technical information to North Korea despite knowing it could be used to help the hermit country launder funds and evade sanctions. Griffith was detained by officials and pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court. Griffith was charged with conspiracy in violation of the International Emergency Economy Powers Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted. Griffiths’s lawyers argued that while the researcher gave a talk to around 100 people at the 2019 Blockchain and Peace Summit held in Pyongyang, he only provided basic information that could easily be found on the internet. The lawyers argued that the talk was an exercise of freedom of speech, protected by the First Amendment.
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