DOJ to press on with criminal charges against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm
The post DOJ to press on with criminal charges against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
The US Department of Justice does not intend to drop its federal criminal charges against Tornado Cash developer and co-founder Roman Storm, Decrypt reported on May 15, citing sources within the DOJ. The DOJ’s decision to proceed comes despite an internal memo circulated last month signaling a potential shift in how the agency handles cases involving crypto mixing services. Storm will stand trial on federal charges, including money laundering and sanctions evasion. Criminal charges Federal prosecutors allege that Storm conspired to launder funds, evade US sanctions, and operate an unlicensed money transmitting business through Tornado Cash, an Ethereum-based coin mixer designed to obscure the origin and destination of crypto transactions. Storm’s trial is set to begin in a Manhattan federal courtroom in less than two months. The most recent court filings show that prosecutors have agreed to drop one portion of the charge related to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, acknowledging inconsistencies with federal guidelines. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) clarified in 2019 that “non-custodial entities” such as Tornado Cash are not classified as money transmitters. The DOJ’s partial rollback highlights a tension between law enforcement and developers of decentralized software. Amanda Tuminelli, executive director of the DeFi Education Fund, told Decrypt that technologists building neutral privacy tools should not be held to “unreasonable criminal standards.” Her comments echo the sentiment prevalent among industry leaders, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who continues to support Storm. Case to continue despite shifting stance The DOJ’s reaffirmation of charges against Storm follows the leak of an internal memo indicating the agency would now prioritize pursuing individuals using crypto tools for criminal purposes rather than prosecuting the platforms themselves. The shift has been interpreted as a sign of evolving policy under the more crypto-friendly Trump administration. However, the DOJ does not intend to…
Filed under: News - @ May 15, 2025 11:26 pm