Tornado Cash founder Roman Storm is at the center of a legal case concerning money laundering and violations of U.S. sanctions. The ongoing trial may be jeopardized due to witness testimony.
Defense Arguments Against Witness Testimony
Roman Storm's attorneys have filed arguments against the use of witness testimony from someone allegedly involved in a hack who is said to have used the Tornado Cash privacy protocol. The filing claims the witness was disclosed past the legal deadline, posing a risk of misleading the jury. The defense states that this could mislead jurors and create an unjustified negative impression of Storm.
Trial Delay Prospects
If the motion is denied, Storm's lawyers may seek a short continuance to delay the trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday, although new developments could postpone it.
Support from the Crypto Community
Roman Storm continues to receive substantial support from the crypto community, including notable figures such as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Paradigm's Matt Huang, who have donated to his legal defense. It is also notable that his co-founder Alexey Pertsev was convicted on similar charges in the Netherlands and sentenced to over five years in prison in 2024.
Roman Storm's trial, amid escalating charges concerning various financial crimes, continues to spark debate and attention in the crypto community. His fate will serve as an important indicator for the future of dApps and DeFi technologies.
