Virgil Griffith, once Ethereum foundation's research scientist who was arrested on charges of helping North Korea evade US sanctions using <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/crypto/a-comprehensive-guide-for-bitcoin-and-blockchain/">blockchain</a> and cryptocurrency has been released just before the new year. After his arrest in the case, Ethereum announced that he was no longer associated with the foundation, but they kept demanding for his release, where Ethereum co-founder <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/crypto/vitalik-buterin-demands-a-new-alternative-to-youtube/">Vitalik Buterin</a> even signed a petition for his release.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I refuse to take the convenient path of throwing Virgil under the bus, because I firmly believe that that would be wrong. I'm signing. Reasoning below.<a href="https://t.co/E44p5caeJO">https://t.co/E44p5caeJO</a></p>
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) <a href="https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin/status/1201182901062307840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
The order of release was signed by Judge Vernon S. Broderick on the condition of $1 million bond and allowed Griffith to stay with his family. As per reports his family has put their home as collateral for the bond. An earlier bail plea on December 26th was rejected by the court citing his involvement in helping North Korea set up a money laundering.

Griffith's lawyer  Brian Klein argued that his client was charged with violation of federal order and not for money laundering, so denying bail on those grounds are entirely invalid.
<h2>The Charges Against Former Ethereum Research Scientist</h2>
Virgil Griffith was charged with violation of federal law when he went to North Korea for a presentation on how to evade trade sanctions using the emerging technology of blockchain and cryptocurrency. It was alleged that Griffith presentation indeed helped the authoritarian state of North Korea to evade the sanctions and launder money using cryptocurrencies.

Griffith was arrested on November 26th and charged with violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). He went to North Korea in April to speak at the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference despite repeated warnings from the authorities.

John Demers, the Assistant Attorney General at the time noted that the charges against Griffith could land him for 20 years in prison. Currently, Griffith has a US citizenship but currently lives in Singapore. It would be interesting to see if Griffith.

Ethereum Research Scientist Released on $1 million Bond

The order of release was signed by Judge Vernon S. Broderick on the condition of $1 million bond and allowed Griffith to stay with his family.

An engineering graduate, Prashant focuses on UK and Indian markets. As a crypto-journalist, his interests lie in blockchain technology adoption across emerging economies.

Ethereum Research Scientist Released on $1 million Bond

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