The US government can still retry Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm on counts of money laundering and violating sanctions due to a hung jury, according to attorneys.

“The Department of Justice (DOJ) will decide in the coming days if it wants to retry those charges in a new trial,” Jake Chervinsky, chief legal officer at venture capital firm Variant Fund, wrote on X.

Storm was convicted on one felony count for his involvement with Tornado Cash on Wednesday. The jury found him guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.

However, jury members did not reach a unanimous verdict on the charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate North Korea sanctions.

Attorney Aaron Brogan told Cointelegraph that Storm’s verdict still carries broader legal implication for decentralized protocols.

“The problem with this broad application of federal money transmitter law is that, frankly, many in DeFi worry they could apply as strongly to them as to Tornado Cash. And while the government probably won’t bring charges against all of DeFi, the broad exposure gives them a powerful stick in any negotiations.”

The case’s potential for lasting implications has drawn close attention from the crypto industry and privacy advocates. Attorneys say the precedent-setting trial is critical for digital privacy and could have a significant impact on open-source software developers in the United States.

Related: SEC’s Peirce defends transaction privacy as Tornado Cash verdict looms

Attorneys react to the partial verdict

The US can still bring Roman Storm back to court on the unresolved charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate North Korea sanctions. The decision would depend on several factors, including the likelihood of securing a conviction in a second trial.

“If the Trump administration wants the USA to be the crypto capital of the world, then the DOJ must not be allowed to retry the two deadlocked charges,” Chervinsky said.

Chervinsky described the partial verdict as “a sad day for DeFi,” warning that section 1960 under the US Code, which prosecutors used to charge Storm with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, represents an existential threat to decentralized finance applications.

“All in all, this leads to a pretty depressing conclusion,” attorney Zack Shapiro wrote on X, but said that it was good the “draconian” prison sentences for the money laundering charges were off the table for now.

I think it’s reasonable to conclude that the government might not retry the mistried counts of money laundering given the political posturing

A US court overturned the Tornado Cash sanctions in January 2025, handing decentralized crypto and privacy-preserving protocols a major legal victory.

The sanctions were imposed by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2022, accusing the crypto mixing service of money laundering.

DOJ officials claimed the Tornado Cash protocol helped launder over $7 billion in crypto between 2019 and 2022 and was instrumental to North Korean state-sanctioned hackers laundering funds stolen through hacking.

Magazine: Tornado Cash 2.0: The race to build safe and legal coin mixers

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Prosecutors in New York’s Southern District expect to wrap up arguments against Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm by July 25.

This was shared in court on July 17, according to Inner City Press, with Assistant US Attorney Thane Rehn saying the government’s presentation is nearly complete.

Once the prosecution rests, Storm’s lawyers will begin presenting their side. Before the trial started, Storm shared on X that he thought the case might last three to four weeks because of complicated arguments and unexpected evidence.

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On July 17, the court heard from FBI employees, including a forensic accountant and an agent who searched Storm’s home near Seattle. On July 15, jurors also heard from witnesses tied to alleged hackers linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group who used Tornado Cash to move stolen funds.

Meanwhile, a disagreement has come up over what the jury should be allowed to hear when the defense takes its turn.

In a court filing, Storm’s legal team stated that one of their witnesses might talk about kidnappings involving crypto holders. They argued that this shows why privacy tools like Tornado Cash can help protect users from such crimes.

However, prosecutors are asking the judge to prevent any testimony that refers to kidnapping or torture.

Meanwhile, Roger Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus”, recently appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to block his extradition to the US on tax evasion charges. What did he claim? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.

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Roman Storm, the co-founder of the crypto mixing service Tornado Cash, has asked for help to raise an immediate $500,000 ahead of his trial on Monday on charges of money laundering and sanctions violations.

Storm posted on X on Saturday that he faces a “critical shortfall” and needs to raise $500,000 in the next few days, and will need another $1 million within the next few weeks to cover the cost of his legal battle.

“My team is working nonstop to defend code as free speech, protect software development, and push back against government overreach that threatens us all,” he added.

In May, Free Pertsev & Storm, an organization set up to provide legal aid to the Tornado Cash founders, projected that the total legal costs for Storm’s trial would be $2 million.

However, Storm said on Friday that his legal fees will mount to $3.5 million as his trial could last up to four weeks, double the initially anticipated two weeks, due to “complex legal arguments and unforeseen witnesses and evidence.”

Storm was arrested in August 2023 on counts of money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter, and conspiracy to violate US sanctions and faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty.

On Friday, Storm’s legal team attempted to postpone the trial, arguing that prosecutors disclosed a witness after the scheduled deadline had ended.

The judge overseeing Storm’s criminal trial, Judge Katherine Failla, said she would not allow any mention of the US Treasury’s sanctions levied against Tornado Cash, which were withdrawn in March.

Related: Ethereum Foundation pledges $500K to Roman Storm’s defense

In April, the crypto lobbying group the DeFi Education Fund petitioned the Trump administration to end the so-called “lawless prosecution” of open-source software developers, including Roman Storm.

57% of goal raised for Tornado Cash trial

Storm is attempting to raise $3.5 million in total. At the time of writing, Storm has managed to raise $1.96 million, approximately 57% of the goal.

Since the donations are made in Ether (ETH), the amount raised can fluctuate. Currently, ETH is trading at $3,030, up 2.9% in the past 24 hours, according to Nansen.

Last month, the Ethereum Foundation said it would donate $500,000 and match community donations up to $750,000 for Storm’s legal defense.

MetaCartel’s Bill Warren said that the MetaCartel DAO has given all the funds it had left in its treasury to support the cause.

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Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm took to Twitter with an urgent plea for support, ahead of his high-profile trial date tomorrow. Storm, who has been battling legal charges for nearly two years, is calling on the crypto community to help raise $500,000 in the next few days and $1.5 million in the coming weeks to cover escalating legal fees, expert witnesses, and research costs as the case stretches beyond its initial two-week projection.

Who is Roman Storm, and what is Tornado Cash?

Storm, for the uninitiated, is a prominent blockchain developer and co-founder of Tornado Cash, a privacy-focused Ethereum mixing service. Tornado Cash enables users to obfuscate the origin and destination of crypto transactions, providing a layer of privacy on public blockchains.

He has been entangled in legal proceedings since his arrest in August 2023, when U.S. authorities charged him with conspiracy to commit money laundering and sanctions violations related to Tornado Cash. He has spent nearly two years under restrictive conditions, facing mounting legal and financial pressure as his trial date approaches on July 14, 2025.

In a recent urgent appeal, Storm revealed a critical funding shortfall: $500,000 needed within days and $1.5 million required in the coming weeks.

Why this case matters for crypto, privacy, and freedom

Storm’s defense centers on the principle that writing and publishing open-source code is a form of free speech protected under the First Amendment. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how governments treat software developers and open-source contributors worldwide.

Tornado Cash and similar privacy tools are essential for safeguarding user anonymity in a financial system that is increasingly surveilled. The prosecution of Storm is seen by many as a direct challenge to the right to financial privacy and the legitimacy of privacy-preserving technologies.

The case also raises concerns about government overreach and the potential criminalization of software development. If Storm is convicted, it could have a chilling effect on innovation and deter developers from working on privacy-enhancing technologies.

Community support and how you can help

The crypto community has rallied around Storm, viewing his case as a battle for fundamental freedoms. Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum and a leading voice in the blockchain space, publicly donated $170,000 to Storm’s legal defense fund earlier this year, and many other prominent crypto members have also joined the cause.

Storm’s team has set up a donation portal at freeromanstorm.com to collect contributions for his legal defense. Every donation, large or small, supports the broader fight for privacy, free speech, and the right to develop open-source software.

Storm’s trial is more than a personal legal battle. It’s a referendum on the rights of developers, the future of privacy in digital finance, and the limits of government power in the age of open-source technology. The outcome will resonate far beyond the crypto world, affecting anyone who values privacy, innovation, and freedom of expression.

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