US judge agrees to reduce Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith's prison sentence by 7 months to 56 months

Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith traveled to North Korea in 2019 to "demonstrate and provide technical advice on the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade sanctions," in violation of sanctions law, and in 2022 he was sentenced to 63 months in prison, equivalent to about 5 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel ordered this week that Griffith's sentence be reduced by 7 months to 56 months. The judge said: "While the court does note the defendant's 'irregularities' while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, the need to protect the public from further crimes by the defendant has been reduced, and the court also notes the great difficulties the defendant has experienced during his incarceration."