Ethereum developer pleads guilty to conspiring with North Korea

Former Ethereum Foundation researcher Virgil Griffith pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. According to journalist Ethan Lou, who attended the court hearing.

Virgil was quite emotional. Deep sighs sometimes when he spoke. Unclear what new development caused this guilty plea. The paperwork was signed only yesterday. One possible reason is the barring of the remote testimony of an Ethereum Foundation lawyer.

— Ethan Lou (@Ethan_Lou) September 27, 2021

“Griffith was very emotional. He sometimes sighed deeply when he spoke. It is unclear what new development prompted the guilty plea. The documents were signed only yesterday. A possible reason is that the Ethereum Foundation lawyer was not allowed to appear remotely,” wrote Lou.

Griffith reached a deal with prosecutors on one count. Under the agreement, he faces 63 to 78 months in prison — the court was due to pronounce sentence on January 13, 2022.

In April 2019, Virgil Griffith attended a blockchain conference in Pyongyang. He was arrested in November of the same year and charged with providing North Korea with information about the use of cryptocurrency to evade U.S. sanctions and to launder money during the event.

Media also reported that he told colleagues about plans to supply mining equipment to North Korea.

In January 2020, Griffith was released on bail backed by real estate owned by his sister and parents valued at $1 million. In the same month, he refused to plead guilty.

In July 2021, the developer violated the terms of bail and was taken back into custody.

Earlier in August it was reported that several FBI employees gained unauthorized access to Griffith’s personal data due to a Palantir software glitch.

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