A major legal battle in New York is nearing its conclusion in one of the most closely watched crypto trials in recent memory. Roman Storm, co-creator of the controversial mixer Tornado Cash, faces serious charges — and U.S. prosecutors claim his motive wasn’t digital freedom or privacy, but “bags of dirty money.”

Prosecutors: Tornado Cash Was Built for Criminals

Federal prosecutor Benjamin Gianforti told the jury during closing arguments on Wednesday that Storm and his team may have spoken about privacy, but their true aim was enabling the laundering of billions of dollars.

“This entire business was about providing privacy for criminals,” said Gianforti. “This wasn’t about regular people. Tornado Cash was tailor-made for criminal networks.”

According to the prosecution, Storm’s code allowed hackers and cybercriminals to obscure stolen funds and evade sanctions through a decentralized, non-custodial privacy protocol launched in 2019. Specific references were made to attacks involving North Korean state-backed groups.

Defense: He Didn’t Intend to Help Criminals — Just Protect Ordinary Users

Storm’s attorneys argue he never intended for Tornado Cash to be used by hackers. According to defense lawyer David Patton, the tool was designed to allow anyone to send and receive funds privately.

“Roman did nothing wrong. He created open-source code that anyone could use — including people who simply wanted to send money discreetly without being tracked,” Patton stated.

Tornado Cash worked by mixing funds from various users and redistributing them, breaking the direct link between sender and receiver. The defense argued that similar privacy-preserving techniques exist in traditional finance too.

The Charges and Possible Consequences: Over 40 Years in Prison

Storm faces three main charges:

🔹 Conspiracy to commit money laundering

🔹 Conspiracy to violate sanctions

🔹 Operating an unlicensed money transmission business

If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of over 40 years behind bars.

This case has drawn significant attention not only due to the nature of Tornado Cash but also for its broader implications for software development. The crypto community warns that a “guilty” verdict could set a precedent: that developers are responsible for how their open-source code is used — even without malicious intent.

Jury Deliberates — Verdict Could Come Soon

A 12-member jury began deliberations Wednesday evening but quickly adjourned for the day. The final verdict could come as soon as Thursday.

There’s no time limit for jury deliberation in the U.S., and some juries take months to reach a decision. But this trial has the crypto world holding its breath, awaiting a judgment that could redefine the limits of digital privacy and coding freedom.

🔍 One-Minute Summary:

The U.S. court is deciding whether Roman Storm is a cybercriminal or a scapegoat for tech freedom. While prosecutors argue Tornado Cash was built for crime, the defense insists it was a neutral tool for privacy. The verdict could reshape how open-source development is treated under U.S. law.

#TornadoCash , #Web3Security , #crypto , #Regulation , #CryptoNews

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