U.S. Court Ends Legal Battle Over Tornado Cash Sanctions in Victory for Coin Center
A protracted legal dispute between Coin Center and the U.S. Treasury Department regarding sanctions imposed on cryptocurrency privacy protocol Tornado Cash has concluded with the case's dismissal. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted a joint motion to end the litigation, marking a significant retreat by federal regulators.
The nonprofit policy organization had challenged OFAC's August 2022 sanctions against Tornado Cash, which barred U.S. entities from interacting with the protocol. Coin Center executive Peter Van Valkenburgh characterized the government's decision not to defend its position as acknowledgment of regulatory overreach. The resolution follows Treasury's quiet removal of sanctions in March 2025 after sustained legal pressure and adverse court rulings.