Virgil Griffith, a prominent Ethereum developer and American citizen, has been charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for allegedly assisting North Korea in using blockchain and cryptocurrency to circumvent sanctions. Griffith was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on November 28, 2019, after ignoring warnings against traveling to North Korea. The charges against him are a violation of U.S. law and pose a severe threat to national security. Griffith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. This case highlights the potential misuse of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies by adversarial nations.