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- DOJ seeks October retrial for Roman Storm after hung jury on key Tornado Cash charges.
- Treasury says crypto mixers have lawful uses yet need strict anti-laundering controls.
- Storm’s case heightens tensions over privacy, regulation, and open-source development.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing for a new trial against Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm after a hung jury left two major charges unresolved in 2025. Prosecutors in Manhattan requested an early-October schedule and warned that further delays may disrupt court and counsel coordination.
Prosecutors want to retry Storm on money laundering and sanctions violation counts. He was already convicted on one charge last year in the same case. The remaining counts could bring a sentence of up to 40 years if a jury finds him guilty.
Tornado Cash Case Moves Forward as Storm Appeals
Storm’s legal team has filed a Rule 29 motion to overturn his previous conviction. That motion remains active and is set for argument on April 9, 2026. The DOJ still urged the court to move forward and proposed October 5 or October 12 for the retrial.
Storm commented on X about his personal experiences with the case. He stated he has a daughter and a life in Seattle that remains strained because of this case. Storm explained how legal funding is almost depleted and all available funds go directly to legal representation.
The case began with allegations Storm assisted cybercriminals in laundering over $1 billion via Tornado Cash. Prosecutors argued this platform lacked compliance measures. Storm allegedly ignored warnings about illegal activity associated with a North Korean hacking group called Lazarus.
The main evidence against Storm consisted of messages associated with a hack on the Ronin Bridge. Prosecutors argued these messages demonstrated Storm’s knowledge of this activity. Storm’s defense argued he only forwarded these messages and took issue with the use of private data obtained from Apple, X, and Dragonfly.
Also Read: Ripple Expands Crypto Payments Platform to Connect Fiat and Digital Assets Globally
Tornado Cash Privacy Debate Intensifies
The trial is ongoing as US officials seek to understand the functionality of crypto-privacy tools under financial regulations. In a report published in March 2026 under the GENIUS Act, the US Treasury stated that mixers can be used for legal purposes. It added that mixers can be used for personal finance, business, and charitable donations.
The report also noted that the tools can operate in a regulatory system with proper records in place. On the other hand, the report noted that mixers are often used to launder stolen assets, emphasizing the need for effective anti-money laundering systems.
The debate has also expanded to include other areas in the crypto market. Bankless co-host David Hoffman urged President Trump and Sacks to pardon Storm. He noted that open-source developers need protection in case the US intends to lead in the development of technology.
However, Storm’s retrial has put the spotlight on the larger conflict between privacy, regulation, and open-source development. The outcome may influence how crypto mixers and their developers are handled under US law.
Also Read: Bithumb Faces Possible 6-Month Suspension as South Korea Targets AML Violations
