Key Highlights
- DOJ plans Storm retrial on two unresolved charges despite pending motion to overturn prior conviction.
- Storm warns retrial risks personal life, legal funds, and the fight for financial privacy.
- Treasury acknowledges crypto mixers can protect privacy but stresses risks of misuse in laundering.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is moving to retry Tornado Cash Co-Founder Roman Storm on two unresolved charges from his 2025 federal trial. Prosecutors in Manhattan asked the court to schedule a retrial in early October, citing a hung jury on money laundering and sanctions violation counts.
Storm, already convicted on one charge last year, faces up to 40 years if the retrial leads to convictions. The DOJ emphasized the urgency, noting delays could create conflicts for both legal teams and the court.
Retrial set amid pending motion
Storm’s defense team recently filed a Rule 29 motion to overturn his prior conviction on unlicensed money transmission. The motion remains pending and is scheduled for argument on April 9, 2026. Despite this, prosecutors proposed trial dates around October 5 or 12, aligning with the defense’s availability.
Storm highlighted the personal and professional stakes on X, stating, “I have a daughter. I have a life in Seattle. I will never stop fighting for freedom.” He also noted that funding for the defense is nearly exhausted, with every dollar going directly to legal support and experts.
The original trial accused Storm of aiding cybercriminals in laundering over $1 billion, including funds linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Prosecutors argued Storm ran Tornado Cash without compliance measures and ignored warning signs. Central to the case were messages allegedly tied to the Ronin Bridge hack. Storm’s team contended he only forwarded some messages and challenged the use of private data from Apple, X, and Dragonfly.
Tornado Cash privacy debate
The trial comes as the U.S. Treasury recognizes that crypto mixers can have legitimate uses. A March 2026 report under the GENIUS Act said mixers can help keep personal finances, business dealings, and charitable donations private.
The report also noted that privacy tools can work alongside regulations if proper records are kept. However, it warned that mixers are often misused to hide stolen funds, showing the importance of strong anti-money laundering protections.
Moreover, Bankless Co-Host David Hoffman, reacted to this by directly calling on President Trump and David Sacks to pardon Storm, arguing, “If the USA wants to be the Crypto Capital of the world, we need to protect our open-source developers.”
Storm’s retrial puts a spotlight on the tension between digital privacy and the law. It raises questions about coding, open-source software, and keeping financial activity private. As crypto rules evolve, the outcome could influence how mixers and developers are treated under U.S. law.
Also Read: US Banking Giants Eye Lawsuit as OCC Opens Door to Crypto Firms
