A key figure behind the controversial crypto mixing service Tornado Cash is slated to face trial in the United States. Roman Storm, one of the co-founders of the platform, is confronting serious federal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning the service’s operations and alleged misuse.
Charges Brought by the DOJ
The Department of Justice has formally accused Storm of participating in a conspiracy related to several illicit activities. These include conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to evade sanctions. Additionally, prosecutors allege involvement in processing assets derived from unlawful activities. The DOJ maintains that the defendant knowingly engaged in conduct that violated U.S. laws.
Trial Details and Legal Context
Storm’s trial is scheduled to proceed in federal court located in Manhattan relatively soon, according to statements from the authorities. It is noteworthy that one initial charge, specifically conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, was dropped by the prosecution. This particular point had drawn comment from Peter Van Valkenburgh, Executive Director of the Coin Center think tank, who highlighted its potential conflict with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)’s position. FinCEN had previously indicated in 2019 that non-custodial services, a category under which Tornado Cash might fall, were not considered money transmitters.
Related Developments
This legal action against Roman Storm is part of broader scrutiny faced by Tornado Cash co-founders. In a related but separate development, another co-founder, Alexei Percev, was reportedly released from preliminary detention following a court decision in the Netherlands in early February 2025, according to reports at that time.
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