The trial of Roman Storm, co-founder of the Ethereum-based mixer Tornado Cash, faces challenges as the jury remains unable to reach a unanimous decision.
Jury Status and Judge's Instruction
After four days of deliberation, the jury informed the court that they remain deadlocked on several charges. The judge issued an 'Allen charge,' urging them to re-examine their positions. Storm's defense attorney Brian Klein opposed this charge, arguing that the jury clearly indicated that a unanimous verdict was unlikely.
Charges Against Roman Storm
Roman Storm is accused of conspiring to launder over $1 billion in illicit funds, including money linked to hackers from North Korea's Lazarus Group. Prosecutors allege he actively promoted the tool to criminals and ignored warnings about its misuse.
Implications for Crypto Software Developers
The defense argues that Storm wrote open-source code and had no control over how it was used. This case raises broader questions about liability for software developers in decentralized systems. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 45 years in prison.
The case of Roman Storm raises important questions about the liability of crypto software developers and could influence the future of such technologies in the legal framework.
