By Solomon Odunayo
The petition meant to demand for the release of Virgil Griffith from the net of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has received 199 signatures at the time of filing this report. This petition was started by a ConsenSys’ Senior Software Engineer, Joseph Delong,
A few days ago, Virgil Griffith, an American programmer and a senior employee of the Ethereum Foundation, who created WikiScanner, was reportedly apprehended by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after being alleged of helping United Sates’ enemy (DPRK) to bypass sanctions via the use of cryptocurrency.
Details About Virgil Griffith’s Arrest
North Korea is known to be one of the stern and aged long enemies of the United States. Since cryptocurrency knows no bounds, virtually everyone that understands the concept of digital currency knows about its decentralized feature.
This indicates that all activities pertaining to cryptocurrency is opened to all and sundry without limitation. In short, digital currency is fully designed out of third-party’s (government) control.
Virgil Griffith’s mare started when he joined a set of 7 individuals to attend the “Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency” conference held in North Korea.
His appearance there, coupled with his interest to educate the people of North Korea about the benefits in cryptocurrency and blockchain seemed to be the yardstick for his arrest. The presentation he gave at the conference was alleged to be questionable by the US government.
He was thereby accused of supporting the North Korea in bypassing US sanctions using the utilities embedded in cryptocurrency. His arrest was ordered and he was detained by the FBI at LAX when he stepped to return to the United States for the much-talked about Thanksgiving.
Progress of the Petition Launched for His Release
The said petition was according to Change.org started by Joseph Delong, a Senior Software Engineer at ConsenSys. The signatures to this petition by concerned individuals are so far totaled 199.
Going by the statement in the petition, it demands for the freedom of Virgil Griffith from FBI’s net. The petition is also directed to some government departments, with the demand for the release of Virgil.
Reactions of the Concerned in Support of Virgil Griffith
According Joseph Delong, the personality that spearheaded the petition, EFF and ACLU have already been contacted, with lots of signers showing up for the corporate rally.
One of the petition signers see the United States’ order for the arrest of Virgil as an “unfortunate abuse of power”, coupled with “violation of his right”.
The signer furthered that “…I find myself supposing they probably are intending to make him an example to fear-monger people out of an industry that ensures freedoms and limits government powers…”
As reported, Virgil has been able to secure bail as he awaits trial, with Baker Marquart’s Brian Klein representing him free of charge.