Alexey Pertsev, the creator of cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, is set to spend more time in prison after a Dutch court granted him an extension on Tuesday. According to reports, the court rejected arguments that Perstev had no authority over Tornado Cash. The prosecutors claimed that the developer is critical to the operation of the crypto mixer. On August 12, the developer was arrested on suspicion of money laundering through Tornado Cash.
The mixer, according to Dutch authorities, was used to conceal money flows from criminals and was used in cryptocurrency scams and hacks. Following that, authorities in the United States The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Tornado Cash addresses and barred residents from using it. The change was intended to keep users safe from decentralized finance (DeFi) hacks and exploits.
The court recently ordered Pertsev to serve another three months in custody in the country. The court hearing has been rescheduled for February 20, 2023. Pertsev was detained for 90 days after the court ordered it on August 25. The decision drew widespread condemnation from the crypto community, which also staged a protest against the arrest. Protesters demanded that criminals involved in hacking and theft be targeted rather than developers.
