Ethereum’s Controversial Developer Freed Before Full Sentence

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure Virgil Griffith, a former Ethereum developer who worked on the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), has been released from prison on parole and relocated to a halfway house.

Updates posted on X on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, disclosed that Griffith is now starting his return to civilian life after serving some of his sentence for violating US sanctions.

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Brantly Milegan, executive director of Ethereum Identity Foundation, broke the news with a photo of Griffith and his parents outside the prison. Alexander Urbelis, ENS general counsel and part of Griffith’s legal team, confirmed his release from FCI Milan in Michigan.

Griffith was arrested in November 2019 after speaking at a cryptocurrency conference in North Korea. Prosecutors claimed his presentation provided information that could help North Korea evade sanctions and launder money.

From 63 Months To 56: The Sentence Journey

In 2022, Griffith was sentenced to 63 months in prison and meted a fine of $100,000 after pleading guilty to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In July 2024, US District Judge Kevin Castel lowered his sentence to 56 months, citing him as a first-time offender.

ETHUSD trading at $1,598 on the daily chart: TradingView.com

Crypto Return Faces Serious Hurdles

Griffith himself starts a several-year probation term. His attorneys are fighting to transfer him from the halfway house to home confinement, but returning to regular life is hindered.

The Department of Commerce placed severe export restrictions on Virgil that will extend until 2032, Urbelis explained. These limits could block his return to the cryptocurrency field.

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Before joining Ethereum, Griffith earned a Ph.D. from Caltech and created WikiScanner, a tool tracking anonymous Wikipedia edits. He also worked with Aaron Swartz on Tor2web.

According to Urbelis, Griffith is seeking a pardon from US President Donald Trump. Trump has previously granted clemency to others in crypto-related cases, including Ross Ulbricht and Arthur Hayes.

The case has triggered debate about sharing open-source information versus helping sanctioned nations. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has supported Griffith, even signing a petition calling for his release in 2023.

Featured image from Thiessen Law Firm*, chart from TradingView*

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