So did everyone hear about Virgil Griffith? He used to work with the Ethereum team and just got slapped with a 63-month sentence for helping North Korea dodge sanctions. Gave a presentation back in 2019 and then pled guilty.
Yeah, I saw that. After years of legal drama, they hit him with a way lighter sentence than expected. Just 63 months for something that basically could mess with global security. Crazy.
Seems like he didn’t really have financial gain as a motive. More like he was caught up in some idealism... like he thought he could just get away with it? Totally out of touch.
I think he knew the risks. North Korea? Seriously? They had to know the backlash was coming. Was he hoping for some cash? Or just trying to make a statement?
If he really helped a nation considered a threat, seems like he got off easy. The US has a history of dealing harshly with terrorists. Makes you wonder about their current stance on these situations.
Right? And the people there are struggling under Kim’s rule. Shouldn't we be helping them trade instead of slapping on sanctions? Maybe Griffith was just trying to make a difference.
Could be the first big mistake for him. Five years in jail to rethink if it's worth it to aid North Korea again later. But the space might’ve changed by then.
We just take the US at their word, don’t we? They even linked North Korea to the Ronin hacks. But honestly, that sentence seems way too lenient for someone who aided an enemy.
Six weeks late to the conversation but I remember this too. He spoke at a conference a while back when things were warming up with North Korea. Bad timing on his part.
Funny enough, I met him once at a blockchain summit in the Philippines. Was shocked when I heard he got arrested for this. It’s like, what was he thinking?