Today, DEF & Coin Center are happy to submit an expert opinion to the Dutch court handling Alexey Pertsev’s appeal as he undergoes trial in the Netherlands. 

The brief addresses key technological aspects of the Tornado Cash Protocol as well as privacy-related tools within DeFi. 🧵

In our submission, we provide “detailed analysis and insights” on the following key areas of DeFi:

- Neutrality of Technologies
- Privacy Benefits for Users
- Societal & Financial Benefits of DeFi Protocols
- Compliance & Regulatory Frameworks

We do policy and advocacy work to help DeFi flourish. 

Looking to donate? 
https://www.defieducationfund.org/supportus

We elaborate on the potential unintended consequences of software developers being held liable for third-party misconduct.

It is not normal for designers, inventors & software developers to be liable for “third-party misuse” of their technology. 

“For example, automobile manufacturers are not liable for drivers who use their vehicles as weapons; construction companies are not liable for businesses that use their offices to perpetrate fraud; and television manufacturers are not liable for newscasters who use their screens to publish false or defamatory statements.”

Like the case against Roman Storm in the U.S., the case against Pertsev presents the same novel question: “when should software developers be held criminally liable for the actions of third parties who use their software…”?