Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith released early from prison 

Promoter Ethereum and early contributor Virgil Griffith was granted at the start of prison after serving almost five years for violation of American sanctions against North Korea.

Griffith, 41, was decree In 2019, after a controversial trip to North Korea, where he made a presentation at a cryptocurrency conference in Pyongyang. American prosecutors alleged that his speech, entitled “Blockchain for Peace”, explained how the country could use the crypto to escape sanctions and whiten money.

Griffith pleaded guilty in 2021 to a chief of conspiracy to violate the international law on emergency economic powers and was sentenced at 63 months in prison and a fine of $ 100,000 in 2022.

On July 16, American district judge Kevin Castel reduced Griffith’s sentence at 56 months, in force on August 2, citing his lack of criminal history and the difficulties he endured in detention. While recognizing Griffith’s disciplinary offenses in prison, the judge noted that the threat he poses to the public “somewhat dissipated”.

Griffith’s “curiosity”

Griffith’s legal team has long argued that its presentation contained information accessible to the public and that it was more motivated by academic curiosity than with criminal intention. A lawyer describe The trip as “the culmination of Virgile’s unfortunate obsession for North Korea”.

A figure respected in Ethereum (Ethn) Early development and a key contributor to the service of Ethereum names, the case of Griffith drew the attention of the defenders of cryptography and national security circles.

His release comes as piracy groups linked to the North Korean like Lazarus target Cryptographic companies, stealing billions of digital assets in the past decade.

Griffith is currently detained in a federal prison in Michigan and is expected to be released shortly after August 2.