Roman Storm, co-founder of the privacy-focused cryptocurrency platform Tornado Cash, has broken his silence regarding the ongoing legal case against him and the sanctions that were recently lifted. Storm is facing serious charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, related to his involvement with Tornado Cash.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Storm addressed the charges, which stem from his development of open-source code that facilitates private, non-custodial cryptocurrency transactions. He voiced concerns that the prosecution could set a dangerous precedent, potentially criminalizing software development and hindering innovation across the technology industry.
Storm’s legal team, led by Keri Axel, emphasized that this case poses a broader threat to software developers, with the potential to stifle technological advancement in various sectors. According to Storm, Tornado Cash is merely a tool, and developers cannot be held accountable for its misuse by others, much like any other software platform.
The controversy surrounding Tornado Cash erupted in 2022 when the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the platform, accusing it of enabling money laundering and sanction evasion. However, a Texas court ruled in November 2023 that the Treasury’s sanctions were unlawful, stating that the government did not have the authority to sanction the platform. Despite this ruling, the Department of Justice has continued to pursue charges against Storm and his co-founder Alexey Pertsev.
Storm has garnered support from several advocacy groups, including the DeFi Education Fund, Coin Center, and the Blockchain Association, which argue that the prosecution of Tornado Cash developers violates open-source principles and individuals’ right to privacy. These organizations have filed amicus briefs in his defense.
Vitalik Buterin and Others Speak Out
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has also shown support for Storm, along with other developers facing legal challenges, such as ETH developer Virgil Griffith and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht. Buterin has called on U.S. authorities to focus on individuals misusing software tools for illicit purposes rather than prosecuting the developers who create the tools.
American entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy added that the creators of code should not be pursued. Instead, authorities should target individuals using the tools for illegal activities, he argued.
Tornado Cash Token Surges Amid Legal Developments
Amid these legal proceedings, the price of Tornado Cash’s native token, TORN, has seen a dramatic rise. Over the past 24 hours, TORN surged by 160%, reaching a price of $20.81, up from a low of $7.80. This price movement highlights the growing interest in Tornado Cash despite its ongoing legal issues, with the token fluctuating between an intra-day high of $25.94 and the current price point.
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