Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, gave a rare interview ahead of his criminal trial, sharing his thoughts on testifying.
Charges Against Roman Storm
Roman Storm was indicted in 2023 on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitter, and violating U.S. sanctions. These charges relate to the activities of Tornado Cash, which was sanctioned by the Treasury Department a year earlier for facilitating the laundering of funds stolen by North Korea's Lazarus Group.
Support from the Crypto Community
Storm's case has sparked extensive discussion in the crypto industry, with many viewing it as a threat to open-source developers and financial privacy. The Ethereum Foundation pledged $500,000 towards his defense, and several co-founders, including Vitalik Buterin, also contributed, raising over $750,000.
Changes in Prosecutors' Approach
In May, U.S. prosecutors announced they would not pursue part of the criminal case against Storm but would continue pressing charges related to money laundering and sanctions violations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York noted it would drop parts of the allegation regarding operating an unlicensed money transmission business, while focusing on other charges.
Roman Storm's trial is set to begin on July 14, as he continues to weigh whether he will testify. The complexities of this legal battle could significantly impact the future of open projects in the crypto industry.
