Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum developer and early contributor, has been granted an early release from prison after serving close to five years for breaching U.S. sanctions against North Korea.
Griffith, aged 41, was taken into custody in 2019 following a contentious visit to North Korea, where he presented at a cryptocurrency conference in Pyongyang. Prosecutors in the U.S. claimed that his talk, titled “Blockchain for Peace,” demonstrated how the nation might utilize cryptocurrency to circumvent sanctions and launder funds.
In 2021, Griffith entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to breach the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and was sentenced to 63 months in prison along with a $100,000 fine the following year.
On July 16, U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel modified Griffith’s sentence to 56 months, effective August 2, citing his absence of a criminal background and the difficulties he faced while incarcerated. Although the judge acknowledged Griffith’s disciplinary issues while in prison, he asserted that the perceived threat Griffith posed to society had “somewhat dissipated.”
Griffith’s ‘curiosity’
Griffith’s defense team has consistently contended that his presentation consisted of information available to the public and that his motivations stemmed more from academic interest than any illicit purpose. One attorney characterized the trip as the culmination of Griffith’s unfortunate fixation on North Korea.
A notable figure in the early development of Ethereum (ETH) and a significant contributor to the Ethereum Name Service, Griffith’s situation garnered attention from both cryptocurrency supporters and national security officials.
His release occurs amidst ongoing activities by North Korean-affiliated hacking groups like Lazarus, which have been targeting cryptocurrency enterprises and pilfering billions in digital assets over the past decade.
Griffith is presently situated in a federal correctional facility in Michigan and is anticipated to be released shortly following the implementation of the August 2 order.