Roman Storm, the developer behind Tornado Cash, has seen a surge in contributions to his legal defense fund. This follows a partial verdict in his trial and preparation for a potential retrial on accusations including money laundering and breaches of sanctions.
The Ethereum Foundation has stepped in to double these efforts by pledging to match up to $500,000 in donations to support Storm’s legal battle, demonstrating substantial backing from the crypto community.
During the trial, the jury could not unanimously decide on two out of three charges against Storm, resulting in a deadlock. However, he was found guilty of operating an unlicensed money transmission service, a significant charge that targets open-source software developers working on privacy technologies.
Legal experts, such as Brandon Ferrick from Douro Labs, explain that hung juries do not automatically preclude retrials since double jeopardy does not apply. This keeps open the possibility of the government pursuing further legal actions.
The recent partial verdict has alarmed figures within the cryptocurrency sector and digital rights advocates. They warn that it establishes a risky legal benchmark that could hinder the growth and innovation of privacy-focused protocols and decentralized finance platforms in the U.S.
According to attorneys, the U.S. Department of Justice must decide whether to proceed with a retrial on unresolved counts. The defense is also expected to appeal the guilty verdict, signaling ongoing legal contention.
Storm himself has publicly sought $1.5 million in funds to cover mounting legal expenses, emphasizing the urgency and financial burden of his defense.