New York prosecutors announced the arrest of Ethereum Foundation developer Virgil Griffith, accusing him of violating the US sanctions and cooperation law with North Korea.
The prosecutor's statement said that the developerhelped the DPRK bypass prohibitions by providing technical advice and recommendations on the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain. Prosecutors say he provided expert advice knowing that the information could be used by the government to launder money and jeopardize security measures establishedCongress.
The FBI and prosecutors cite the fact that in AprilIn 2019, Griffith attended a blockchain and cryptocurrency conference in Pyongyang, despite a U.S. Department of State ban, telling how North Korea could use these tools to circumvent economic sanctions. He is also suspected of having facilitated the exchange of digital assets between the DPRK and South Korea after the event.
As a result, the ethereum developer was accused ofconspiracy to violate the Law on International Extraordinary Economic Powers. The maximum penalty for this may be imprisonment for up to 20 years.
Let us remind you that after the crypto conference,Pyongyang has confirmed plans to develop a digital currency backed by wealth, which will allow North Korea to operate freely outside the global financial system.
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