A former American researcher in a cryptocurrency group has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for conspiring to help North Korea evade sanctions Americans using cryptocurrencies. Virgil Griffith had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate US law.
He previously worked for the Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on the technology behind the Ether cryptocurrency. The sentence was the minimum amount of prison time requested by prosecutors. He was also fined $100,000. The 39-year-old faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
His attorney said in a statement that while the sentence was disappointing, the judge “recognized Virgil’s commitment to moving on with his life productivelyand that he is a talented person who has a lot to contribute.” US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement that “justice has been served.”