Roman Storm Trial Concludes Government Case Against Tornado Cash Developer
The trial of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm concluded its prosecution phase, with the defense beginning to present its case. Key points include:
- The government rested after eight days of witness testimony.
- Ethereum core developer Preston Van Loon testified for the defense, describing Tornado Cash as a privacy tool used for operational security.
- Van Loon's previous lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury, which led to sanctions being reversed, was not discussed due to court restrictions.
- The defense argues that Tornado Cash serves legitimate purposes and is akin to tools like VPNs, despite misuse by criminals.
- The prosecution claims Storm and his associates conspired to profit from Tornado Cash while knowingly allowing its use for money laundering by criminals, including North Korean hackers.
- Charges against Storm include conspiracy to commit money laundering, sanctions evasion, and violating international sanctions, with potential penalties of up to 45 years in prison.
- The defense contends Storm is not criminally responsible for users’ actions, asserting he did not know of their illicit activities.
- A victim of a scam testified that her funds were traced to Tornado Cash, but subsequent analysis by blockchain experts disputed this claim, raising questions about the accuracy of the tracing evidence.
- The defense plans to counter the prosecution’s narrative with expert witnesses, including a professor from Columbia Business School.
The trial continues as both sides seek to establish their narratives regarding the use and implications of Tornado Cash.