Tornado Cash Co-Founder Roman Storm Convicted on Unlicensed Money Transmission Charges

Roman Storm, co-founder of cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash, has been found guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The Manhattan federal jury delivered a partial verdict after three weeks of trial, convicting Storm on the primary charge while deadlocking on more severe allegations of money laundering and sanctions violations.

The case centered on prosecutors' claims that Tornado Cash facilitated over $1 billion in illicit transactions, serving as a "giant washing machine" for crypto fraud. Storm now faces up to five years imprisonment, with sentencing yet to be scheduled. He remains free on bail following the mixed outcome.

Jurors acquitted Storm on the heavier charges after four days of deliberation, suggesting skepticism about his direct involvement in laundering stolen funds. The verdict marks another chapter in regulators' escalating crackdown on privacy-focused crypto tools.