Former Ethereum Developer Who Was Jailed For Speaking At A North Korea Blockchain Conference Finally Freed

Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith has officially been released from prison after serving a reduced sentence stemming from his controversial participation in a blockchain conference held in North Korea.

Griffith was arrested in 2019 and later pled guilty on a single charge of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) after he gave a presentation about Ethereum and cryptocurrency at a blockchain conference in North Korea.

Prosecutors argued that his presentation in Pyongyang provided technical information that could potentially aid North Korea in circumventing U.S. sanctions using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Photos from the conference also showed Griffith standing in front of a whiteboard with the words, "No sanctions!" written on it.

The developer also traveled to North Korea without permission from the U.S government. U.S Attorney Geoffrey S.Berman previously alleged in a letter that Griffith provided highly technical information to North Korea, knowing that this information could be used to help North Korea launder money and evade sanctions.

Griffith was initially sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, but his sentence was later reduced to 56 months, allowing for his early release this month at the age of 42.

The news of his release was confirmed by Alexander Urbelis, General Counsel at ENS Labs, who has been closely involved in the case.

Urbelis shared a photo of the developer's release on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating the special moment where Griffith reunited with his parents outside the facility.

“Happy day indeed! The days when I’m truly proud to be a lawyer are few and far between, but this is one of those days. To be a part of making this reunion happen is one of the highlights of my career.”

Urbelis further noted that Griffith had been “counting down the days to be reborn,” acknowledging the overwhelming nature of returning to a highly-stimulated outside world after years behind bars.

Despite his release, Griffith still faces significant legal and professional barriers. Former ENS Director of Operations Brantly Millegan pointed out that a presidential pardon remains crucial, as Griffith is now on parole and is subjected to stringent work restrictions.

Urbelis echoed this sentiment, stating:

“Onerous probation, aggressive export restrictions from the Department of Commerce, and issues of fundamental fairness persist.”

These limitations could indefinitely prohibit Griffith from working in the Web3 and crypto sectors, raising ongoing concerns within the Ethereum community and broader decentralized development space.

During the original trial, Griffith's legal team had argued that the material he presented at the Pyongyang conference was publicly available online and therefore protected under the First Amendment. However, the court did not accept that defense.

Griffith had traveled to Pyongyang in April 2019, against the advice of colleagues and peers in the crypto industry. At his sentencing, he admitted he had “genuinely, arrogantly, and erroneously thought he knew better,” acknowledging that attending the event was widely viewed as reckless.

He will now transition to a halfway house in Baltimore, marking the next phase of his reintegration.