Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account • Hacker News Board

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#11

Post by satori99 » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:17 AM UTC

dnh44 wrote: post #6

adflux wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do include the next part aswell: "Griffith was denied permission to travel to North Korea by the State Department but decided to attend the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference anyway."

It's not okay that he should need permission for such a thing I don't think.

Sanctions would be pretty pointless if anyone could just go and offer goods and services to a sanctioned country regardless.

It may have just been a talk, but a talk is a service, and he knew it was a serious federal crime.

If he planned to rely on the "It was all public information anyway" argument, he is a fool.

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#12

Post by arcturus17 » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:18 AM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #3

"Griffith was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in November 2019 after he travelled to North Korea to give a talk on blockchain and crypto." This is pretty wild to me. The guy gave a talk in North Korea and gave them non-classified information they could easily find on YouTube or any other public website. And now he's facing 20 years.

What’s wild to me is that someone would think that it’s a good idea to give talks about anything in North Korea, a regime that has murdered and starved millions of people.

Also, the people of North Korea do not have access to the internet or Youtube as far as I know.

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#13

Post by arcturus17 » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:19 AM UTC

antocv wrote: post #9

chrisco255 wrote: post #3

"Griffith was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in November 2019 after he travelled to North Korea to give a talk on blockchain and crypto." This is pretty wild to me. The guy gave a talk in North Korea and gave them non-classified information they could easily find on YouTube or any other public website. And now he's facing 20 years.

Hilarious, land of freedom, justice muh democrazy. Hilarious.

You think people should be free to collaborate with a degenerate regime that has killed millions?

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#14

Post by johnny53169 » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:20 AM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #3

"Griffith was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in November 2019 after he travelled to North Korea to give a talk on blockchain and crypto." This is pretty wild to me. The guy gave a talk in North Korea and gave them non-classified information they could easily find on YouTube or any other public website. And now he's facing 20 years.

> "During and after the conference, Griffith was alleged to have discussed means through which North Korea could use cryptocurrency to evade economic sanctions."

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#15

Post by antocv » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:22 AM UTC

arcturus17 wrote: post #13

antocv wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hilarious, land of freedom, justice muh democrazy. Hilarious.

You think people should be free to collaborate with a degenerate regime that has killed millions?

Are you talking about the US, UK or NK?

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#16

Post by mtrycz2 » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:24 AM UTC

moksly wrote: post #10

I’m not going to defend the craziness of the American Government, but why would you go and do something that their treasury has specifically told you that you were not allowed to do? Hell, if you’re still dead set on doing what you think is right, why wouldn’t you obtain a different citizenship and abandon your American one first? America is the world “police” when it wants to be, and as wrong as that is, it’s also s…

Why fight authoritarianism?

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#17

Post by ethanbond » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:24 AM UTC

invalidusernam3 wrote: post #7

adflux wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do include the next part aswell: "Griffith was denied permission to travel to North Korea by the State Department but decided to attend the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference anyway."

Sure, but up to 20 years in prison for that seems absolutely insane

Collaborating with a rival state that threatens our allies with nuclear weapons on a monthly basis and brutalizes its own citizens on a daily one?

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#18

Post by nix23 » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:24 AM UTC

antocv wrote: post #15

arcturus17 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think people should be free to collaborate with a degenerate regime that has killed millions?

Are you talking about the US, UK or NK?

Buuummm shots fired and full hit! :)

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#19

Post by melomal » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:24 AM UTC

arcturus17 wrote: post #13

antocv wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hilarious, land of freedom, justice muh democrazy. Hilarious.

You think people should be free to collaborate with a degenerate regime that has killed millions?

Of course, USA and China still seem to be doing fine and everyone wants to do business.

US of A and their war on [drugs|WMDs|insert other reason] happens outside of the country so the millions of dead doesn't matter?

Re: Ethereum dev Virgil Griffith back in jail after checking $1M Coinbase account

#20

Post by Lariscus » Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 9:25 AM UTC

arcturus17 wrote: post #13

antocv wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hilarious, land of freedom, justice muh democrazy. Hilarious.

You think people should be free to collaborate with a degenerate regime that has killed millions?

It is certainly ethically questionable but I don't think it is reasonable to imprison someone for giving a talk at a conference.