Roman Storm Convicted on Unlicensed Money Transfer Charges; Money Laundering Verdict Pending

Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash and blockchain developer, was convicted of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, with prosecutors considering retrying him on money laundering and sanctions charges, underscoring shifting legal precedents.

Summary

Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, was convicted by a New York jury for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The verdict comes as prosecutors consider retrying him on felony counts including conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions. His background—from early interests in computing and a career in software engineering to blockchain innovation—was detailed during the trial, a case that may set significant legal precedents for digital privacy and open-source development.

Terms & Concepts
  • Tornado Cash: A cryptocurrency mixer that facilitates untraceable financial transactions by obscuring blockchain transaction trails, thereby enhancing user privacy.