The trial of Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, has sparked controversy over a T-shirt he wore at a 2019 crypto event. The shirt featured a washing machine graphic and the phrase "I keep my Ether clean with Tornado.cash". Here's what's happening¹ ²:

- *The Prosecution's Argument*: Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mosley claims the T-shirt symbolizes Storm's involvement in money laundering activities, suggesting he knowingly facilitated illegal transactions through Tornado Cash.

- *The Defense's Counterargument*: Storm's lawyers describe the T-shirt as a "meme, a joke in poor taste," arguing it shouldn't be seen as evidence of criminal intent. They maintain that Tornado Cash was designed for privacy, not illicit activities.

- *Trial Progress*: The trial, which began on July 14, is expected to last three weeks. Prosecutors have concluded their case, presenting testimonies from FBI and IRS representatives, as well as hacking incident victims. Storm's defense team rested their case without him testifying.

- *Potential Consequences*: Storm faces charges of money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter, and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions. If convicted, he could face over 40 years in prison.³

The Golem Foundation, which supported Storm's defense financially, criticized the prosecution's portrayal, likening it to blaming banking app developers for online scams.