US Prosecutors Seek Retrial for Tornado Cash Co-Founder Roman Storm
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are pushing for a retrial of Roman Storm, co-founder of cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, after a split jury failed to reach a verdict on two of three charges last year. The US Treasury recently acknowledged legitimate uses for crypto mixers, including privacy protection, yet the Department of Justice remains intent on pursuing Storm.
The retrial, requested for October 5-12, focuses on unresolved counts of money laundering conspiracy and sanctions violations. Storm's defense team has signaled unavailability until late 2026, creating a potential scheduling clash. This case continues to test the legal boundaries of decentralized finance tools as regulators grapple with their dual potential for privacy and illicit use.
