- Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith exits prison, enters halfway house after 56-month sentence for North Korea blockchain lecture.
- Griffith’s 2019 talk on sanction-circumventing tech led to IEEPA charges; he pleaded guilty in 2021 plea deal.
Virgil Griffith, the Ethereum researcher imprisoned for discussing blockchain technology in North Korea, left federal custody on April 9. U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials confirmed his transfer to a halfway house, where he will remain under supervision until completing parole. Crypto developer Brantly Millegan noted Griffith must follow strict guidelines during this transitional phase.
VIRGIL GRIFFITH IS OUT OF PRISON!!!
just released this morning! he'll be in a halfway house for a few weeks, and parole after that with work restrictions (so a pardon is still important), but HE IS OUT 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/Q4jRZmryGk
— brantly.eth (@BrantlyMillegan) April 9, 2025
Griffith faced charges in 2019 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) after presenting a lecture in Pyongyang about blockchain’s potential to bypass sanctions. Prosecutors argued his talk provided “technical guidance” to a sanctioned regime, though the presentation used publicly accessible material. Griffith maintained the information posed no unique risk.
if you don't know who this is: Virgil is an eth OG who did lots of imp work early on at the EF and ENS. he gave a presentation called Blockchains for Peace in North Korea & had the US govt come after him. was never convicted of anything b/c they threatened him w/ so much time he…
— brantly.eth (@BrantlyMillegan) April 9, 2025
Legal Battles and Sentence Reduction
Griffith initially contested the charges, filing motions to dismiss the case in 2020. After prolonged negotiations, he accepted a plea deal in 2021, receiving a 63-month sentence and $100,000 fine. In 2024, his lawyers petitioned for leniency, citing prison conduct and health concerns.
Prosecutors opposed, asserting Griffith’s actions endangered national security. Judge Kevin Castel reduced the term to 56 months in July 2024, enabling his early release.
Griffith’s case underscores friction between decentralized technology and government oversight. His lecture highlighted blockchain’s capacity to enable cross-border transactions without intermediaries—a feature regulators view as a sanctions risk. Advocates argue such tools promote financial inclusion but acknowledge misuse potential.
Griffith’s release occurs amid heightened scrutiny of crypto’s role in geopolitical conflicts. The U.S. Treasury recently expanded sanctions monitoring for blockchain firms, reflecting concerns similar to those in Griffith’s case. Meanwhile, developers continue exploring privacy-focused protocols, testing legal boundaries.
As Griffith transitions to parole, his case remains a touchstone for debates over innovation, free speech, and national security. For now, the halfway house represents a step toward reintegration—and a reminder of the stakes when technology collides with law.
