The FBI and the Southern District of New York prosecutor arrested Ethereum Foundation research associate Virgil Griffith. Authorities accuse him of violating US sanctions laws and relations with North Korea (DPRK).
This spring, Griffith visited a blockchain conference in Pyongyang, North Korea. At the event, he allegedly told representatives about how to use cryptocurrencies to circumvent sanctions and make cross-border transfers.
However, he did not take special permits from the US Department of Justice and the Office of the Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) before visiting North Korea to offer such services.
According to the court’s prosecutor Joffrey Berman, the developer violates the sanctions regime approved by the president and congress. Presently the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
Teaching Blockchain Technology is Now Illegal in the Land of the Free
Referring to the latest News, the CEO of ShapeShift Erik Voorhees said teaching blockchain technology is illegal in the United States. Thus, claiming anyone who shares knowledge about the benefits of technology will be able to go to jail.
Erik Voorhees specified in his tweet on the social network.
Teaching about blockchain technology is illegal now in the Land of the Free 😞 https://t.co/yD8KSUKKo5
— Erik Voorhees (@ErikVoorhees) November 29, 2019
Some have perceived that the sanction is rightly placed on the developer. Although the topic concerns United States’ enemy, North Korea, the matter escalated to teaching the enemy how to bypass sanctions.
So, it’s a good thing that the citizens in North Korea are isolated from the Internet. Because otherwise, every participant in the United States who is involved in the crypto space may get pulled.
Please tell me where the line is, exactly. If you teach about Bitcoin to someone, and the government doesn't like that person, how is that different?
— Erik Voorhees (@ErikVoorhees) November 29, 2019
As we know, people can instantly send money anywhere in the world, and no one can stop you from using Bitcoin and this isn’t generally a crime.
It is an advantage that people around the world should know about. Nevertheless, knowledge is a crime in this case!
There is already a Twitter thread in which it was emphasized that a trip to the DPRK does not concern Griffith’s work with the Ethereum Foundation.
Well that was definitely not a good idea. pic.twitter.com/JtcNEL5YFl
— WhalePanda (@WhalePanda) November 29, 2019
Industry representatives are actively discussing the charges. Some of them consider this a serious crime and compare the DPRK with the regime of Adolf Hitler, while others hope that Griffith will not get a real term.
On his Facebook, Griffith repeatedly shared publications praising the North Korean government. He also published a comic card in which he was called “dear comrade Virgil.”
