Programmer is taking the U.S. Attorney General to court

Programmer Michael Lewellen has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Attorney General. The case concerns Lewellen’s plans to publish cryptocurrency-based crowdfunding software. He highlights Tornado Cash as a similar tool, whose developers were prosecuted for creating non-custodial software enabling private transfers. The U.S. Attorney General previously stated that the Tornado Cash case should serve as a warning: "These charges should serve as yet another warning to those who think they can turn to cryptocurrency to conceal their crimes."

Lewellen fears he could face similar charges. He argues that the DOJ’s actions create uncertainty for developers and contradict FinCEN guidelines, which clarify that publishing software alone isn’t a crime. Lewellen is seeking a court order to prevent prosecution under money-transmitting laws.

Meanwhile, recent events highlight once again that using cryptocurrency to conceal crimes is a shortsighted decision. In South Africa, authorities arrested a man for allegedly transferring Bitcoin to a suspected terrorist-linked organization. While such transactions might have seemed anonymous in 2017, today investigators identified the sender. Similarly, Tornado Cash tools, which appear sufficient for privacy now, may eventually become outdated. Blockchain records are permanent and can always be revisited.

That’s why I support Lewellen. Rabbit Swap also facilitates cryptocurrency transactions without requiring personal data. For shady dealings, fiat exists. Let’s use crypto for transparent, legal transactions - like coin swaps on rabbit.io.