Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith, currently serving a five-year prison sentence, has been hit with a 10-year export privilege bar by the Department of Commerce. The bar will continue to apply even after Griffith is released from prison, effectively restricting his ability as a US citizen to participate in any transactions involving commodities, software, or technology exported or to be exported from the United States.
The decision was made after consultations with the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Office of Exporter Services and a review of Griffith’s submission. John Sonderman, the director of the Office of Export Enforcement, announced that the order would remain in effect until April 12, 2032.
In 2021, Griffith was sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This legislation prohibits US citizens from exporting goods, services, or technology to countries such as North Korea without acquiring a license from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. As part of Griffith’s sentencing, he was also required to pay a $100,000 fine.
Griffith’s actions in 2018 led to his conviction, where he had worked on developing and funding cryptocurrency infrastructure for North Korea, allegedly knowing that it could be utilized to bypass US sanctions. In court last year, Griffith expressed his remorse, stating that observing Ukraine’s sanctions had shown him their value and that he had been cured of his “stubborn arrogance” and “obsession with North Korea.”
Despite the severity of Griffith’s sentence and the export privilege restriction, it’s important to remember the potential of blockchain technology and its capacity for being a force of good. Blockchain applications extend far beyond cryptocurrencies, and many have the potential to revolutionize various industries with increased security, transparency, and efficiency. However, as with any powerful technology, there will always be individuals who attempt to exploit it for nefarious purposes. In these instances, regulation plays a crucial role in upholding the integrity of the technology and preventing its misuse.
Source: Blockworks
