US prosecutors request new trial for Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm

TheNewsCryptoPublicado em 2026-03-10Última atualização em 2026-03-10

Resumo

U.S. prosecutors are seeking a retrial for Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm on charges of money laundering conspiracy and sanctions violations after a previous jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on those counts. Although Storm was convicted of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, the unresolved charges allow for a new trial. Prosecutors proposed a retrial as early as October, while Storm’s defense suggested availability no sooner than 2026. The case is closely watched in the crypto industry, as it could set a precedent for the legal liability of developers working on decentralized financial software and open-source protocols.

U.S. prosecutors are seeking a retrial for Roman Storm, the co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash. This comes after a federal jury issued a mixed verdict in the previous trial. The case has received considerable attention in the cryptocurrency industry because it has the potential to set the stage for the legal accountability of decentralized software developers. Prosecutors in Manhattan are seeking a retrial for Roman Storm on two counts after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the previous trial.

The Letter For The Retrial

Jay Clayton wrote to Katherine Polk Failla on Monday and asked her to arrange for a retrial of Roman Storm on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate sanctions. The government suggested the period between Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 for the trial, indicating that it could take around three weeks for the process to end. The letter indicated that the government was ready to retry the case as early as between March and May. However, Storm’s defense attorneys indicated to the prosecutors that they could only participate in the process as late as 2026.

During the earlier trial, the jurors found Storm guilty of conspiring to run an unlicensed money transmitting business in association with the crypto mixer known as Tornado Cash. However, the jury did not arrive at a unanimous decision regarding the money laundering charge and sanctions conspiracy charge, which means that these charges are eligible for retrial. Storm continues to stand by his plea of not guilty and had previously moved to dismiss the money transmitting charge. His legal representatives had argued that the prosecution failed to prove that he intended to help illicit actors use his platform. Clayton’s letter also stated that Storm’s legal representatives argued it was premature to seek a retrial until the court resolves the motion to dismiss, scheduled for argument in early April.

Tornado Cash is now a closely watched legal case in the cryptocurrency and decentralized finance spaces. This is because the outcome is thought to have implications for the interpretation of the liability of developers in decentralized software systems. It has been observed that the prosecutors used federal money transmitter laws as the basis for the prosecution of the developer of the Tornado Cash protocol. The jury has since convicted Storm of running an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Meanwhile, the jurors were unable to make a decision on the money laundering conspiracy and sanctions violation charges against Tornado Cash. These unresolved charges give the prosecution the option of holding a retrial for the unresolved charges against Tornado Cash. Legal experts say that a retrial could help determine the extent of liability for developers of open-source financial technologies. Other analysts have cautioned that expansive interpretations of current financial laws could confuse the development of decentralized finance products. Pro-privacy groups have highlighted Tornado Cash’s role as an open-source privacy protocol on blockchain networks.

Highlighted Crypto News:

Trump Signals Iran War May End Very Soon, Floats U.S. Control of the Strait of Hormuz

TagsBlockchainTornado CashU.S

Perguntas relacionadas

QWhat specific charges is the US government seeking a retrial for against Roman Storm?

AThe US government is seeking a retrial for Roman Storm on the charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate sanctions.

QWhy did the jury's previous verdict lead to the possibility of a retrial?

AThe jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on the money laundering and sanctions conspiracy charges, making those specific charges eligible for a retrial.

QWhat was the one charge that the jury did convict Roman Storm on in the initial trial?

AThe jury convicted Roman Storm of conspiring to run an unlicensed money transmitting business.

QWhy is the Tornado Cash case considered so significant for the cryptocurrency industry?

AThe case is significant because its outcome could set a legal precedent for determining the liability of developers who create decentralized software and open-source financial technologies.

QWhat argument did Storm's defense team use to challenge the money laundering charge?

AStorm's defense attorneys argued that the prosecution failed to prove he had the intent to help illicit actors use the Tornado Cash platform.

Leituras Relacionadas

Kraken Adds Solana On-Chain Token Trading Directly Inside Its App

Kraken has integrated on-chain Solana token trading directly into its main app, eliminating the need for users to use a separate wallet or manage seed phrases. Eligible customers in the U.S. and over 100 countries can now trade approximately 2,500 verified Solana-based tokens within the familiar Kraken interface. This move aims to simplify decentralized trading by using embedded wallet technology from Privy and Solana DEX protocols to handle transactions in the background, while displaying on-chain holdings alongside centralized exchange balances. The exchange chose Solana due to its fast-moving token markets and retail trader familiarity, offering access to assets that often appear on-chain before centralized listings. However, Kraken clarifies that these on-chain tokens have not undergone the same review process as centralized listings, meaning market risks remain. This integration reflects a broader trend of major exchanges incorporating DeFi features to retain users who seek early access to new tokens. While not replacing advanced DeFi wallets, Kraken's solution seeks to make on-chain trading more accessible to a mainstream retail audience.

bitcoinistHá 35m

Kraken Adds Solana On-Chain Token Trading Directly Inside Its App

bitcoinistHá 35m

Litecoin ETF’s Slow Start Shows Altcoin Funds Still Face A Demand Test

The Canary Capital spot Litecoin ETF (LTCC) has had a slow start, with reported inflows of around $9.3 million since launch and assets under management at a lower level. This highlights the significant gap in institutional demand compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. While Litecoin has an established history, its more modest narrative around payments and longevity hasn't yet made it a must-own institutional product. The case demonstrates that regulatory approval alone does not guarantee strong investor allocation. For the broader altcoin ETF thesis, future products may see different demand, but Bitcoin and Ethereum are likely to remain the primary institutional channels for the foreseeable future.

bitcoinistHá 1h

Litecoin ETF’s Slow Start Shows Altcoin Funds Still Face A Demand Test

bitcoinistHá 1h

The Entire Internet Hails Noam's Joining, But OpenAI's Loss Bill Just Got Thicker

While the AI community celebrates Noam Shazeer, co-author of the "Attention Is All You Need" paper, joining OpenAI as Head of Architectural Research, the company's audited financials reveal a starkly different reality. In 2025, OpenAI reported $13.07 billion in revenue but a massive $20.92 billion operating loss. Even excluding a one-time accounting charge, the cash burn is severe, with $3.7 billion consumed in Q1 2026 alone. This high-profile hiring occurs against a backdrop of significant internal research talent drain, with key founders and researchers departing as the company's focus shifts from exploratory research to product iteration. Meanwhile, OpenAI's fundamental business model faces a deep crisis. It paid Microsoft $10.59 billion for compute in 2025, while its vast user base of 9 billion weekly actives includes only 50 million paying customers, making growth a direct driver of escalating costs. The article argues Shazeer's recruitment is less about technical necessity and more about crafting a compelling narrative for OpenAI's upcoming IPO, aiming to justify a rumored $1 trillion valuation to future public market investors. It contrasts OpenAI's strategy with Anthropic's reported path to profitability, which relies on a strong enterprise customer base and cost control, rather than star-powered narratives. Ultimately, the piece concludes that while Shazeer's architectural work may take 1-2 years to materialize, OpenAI's financial clock is ticking much faster, with its massive losses undercutting the celebratory headlines.

marsbitHá 1h

The Entire Internet Hails Noam's Joining, But OpenAI's Loss Bill Just Got Thicker

marsbitHá 1h

To 'Own' or 'Rent' Intelligence? The New Question for AI Startups

The shutdown of Mythos has prompted a fundamental question for AI startups: is your intelligence "rented" or "owned"? While using frontier model APIs allows for rapid prototyping, it cedes control over your core capabilities to external providers, whose decisions on pricing, rules, or even shutdowns can jeopardize your business. The critical issue isn't just cost, but control and ownership. The lesson isn't to abandon frontier models, but to build upon them. "Owning" intelligence means starting with a powerful open-source model and systematically shaping it with your unique assets: your proprietary data, workflows, domain expertise, edge cases, and evaluation standards. Over time, this creates a company-specific asset that reflects your real work. The future of AI isn't a single, dominant model. There will be multiple "frontiers": general-purpose frontier models, company-specific models fine-tuned on proprietary knowledge, specialized vertical models, and routing systems that orchestrate multiple models. The winning companies will be those that transform intelligence into their own unique, controlled asset, ensuring no one can pull the floor from under their product.

marsbitHá 1h

To 'Own' or 'Rent' Intelligence? The New Question for AI Startups

marsbitHá 1h

Market Trend (June 19): US-Iran Deal Drives Out Geopolitical Premium; Chip Stocks Soar to New Highs; Energy Sector Leads Declines

U.S. Market Trends (June 19): U.S.-Iran Deal Eases Tensions, Chip Stocks Soar, Energy Sector Leads Declines. U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday as the signing of a temporary U.S.-Iran deal in Geneva de-escalated Middle East tensions, with Saudi oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This geopolitical relief helped markets recover from recent Fed-driven volatility. The S&P 500 rose over 1%, the Nasdaq gained nearly 2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at another record high. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged over 6% to a historic peak. Chip stocks were the standout performers. Reports of an Apple-Intel design and foundry deal for certain products, alongside mentions of potential Nvidia and SpaceX collaborations with Intel, propelled the sector. Intel surged ~10.5%, while memory chip makers like Micron also saw significant gains, highlighting sustained confidence in long-term AI capital expenditure. In contrast, the energy sector was the day's sole loser, with the S&P 500 energy sub-index declining as WTI crude fell ~2% to around $74.29/barrel. The reopening of key shipping routes erased prior geopolitical risk premiums. SpaceX extended losses for a second day on news of a potential large bond offering. Market volatility (VIX) dropped sharply, indicating a swift reversal of post-Fed jitters. Treasury yields dipped slightly but remained elevated. The focus now shifts to upcoming economic data, including next week's PCE inflation report and Micron's earnings, which will serve as a key test for the AI trade's durability.

marsbitHá 2h

Market Trend (June 19): US-Iran Deal Drives Out Geopolitical Premium; Chip Stocks Soar to New Highs; Energy Sector Leads Declines

marsbitHá 2h

Trading

Spot
Futuros
活动图片

Categorias popularesright-arrow

Etiquetas Popularesright-arrow