In the high-profile case US vs Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, the jury delivered a mixed verdict today in Manhattan federal court.
✅ Guilty: For conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money‑transmitting business, a misdemeanor-level offense that could result in up to five years in prison!
❌ Not guilty on, or deadlocked regarding, the more serious charges: conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions, both of which each carry potential sentences of up to 20 years.
Storm has been released on $2 million bail, remaining free pending sentencing; prosecutors indicated they may pursue retrials on the unresolved counts, but no decision has yet been announced.
🔍 Why This Case Mattered
Privacy vs. Accountability: Roman Storm and supporters argued Tornado Cash was a legitimate privacy tool, decentralized and immutable. They stressed that developers can’t be held responsible for illicit usage beyond their control.
Prosecution’s Position: Prosecutors portrayed privacy as a "cover story," claiming Storm knowingly turned Tornado Cash into a platform to launder over $1 billion in stolen crypto, including funds tied to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, while profiting from fees.
🧭 What Happens Next?
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in coming weeks.
It remains unclear whether prosecutors will retry Storm on the deadlocked charges—this decision could deeply influence legal precedent surrounding software developers and privacy tools in crypto.
