Roman Storm, co-founder of authorized cryptocurrency mix Tornado Cash is seeking financial help before his trial in the US. Having been accused of laundering more than $1 billion in money, Storm fears that this case will have a major precedent for virtual assets.
“I am scared,” Storm said in a video, pointing out the effect it will have on software programmers and financial privacy. He declared collaboration with authorities but was captured by armed FBI agents in August 2023.
Tornado Cash is an Ethereum-bound coin mixing tool where users can hide the origin of their crypto transactions. Opposite to authorized by the US in 2022, a project meant that North Korean hackers were laundering stolen money.
Storm and partner Roman Semenov are charged with conspiracy to launder money for the Lazarus hacking group. In August 2022, a third co-founder was detained in the Netherlands on similar charges—Alexey Pertsev.
To solicit public support, Storm appeals for donations to his legal defense via JusticeDAO – a decentralized autonomous organization. “Every contribution matters,” he begs, highlighting the impact this case can have on crypto and privacy in the future.
Also read: Tornado Cash Mixer Still Active After US Sanctions in 2022
