In the rapidly evolving world of crypto, the case of Roman Storm has emerged as a defining moment for developers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers alike. Storm, a co-founder of Tornado Cash, faces money laundering and sanctions violation charges in the U.S. government’s latest crackdown on crypto privacy tools. But what does this mean for crypto innovation—especially under a Trump administration that during the Presidential campaign pledged to be pro-crypto?
In an exclusive conversation about his ongoing legal battle, Storm described his situation as “a nightmare that no developer should ever have to endure.” “Being indicted has put my life in total limbo. I can’t make any plans for the future, personally or professionally. Every day, my thoughts are consumed by the case, and it is a real struggle to work and support my family while I’m under this cloud,” Storm said.
Storm, who has pleaded not guilty, argues that he is not a criminal but a coder who built a neutral technology—a privacy tool misused by bad actors, just like countless other technologies before it. He emphasized, “If we start prosecuting developers for writing open-source code, what’s next? Will we jail someone for creating a web browser because criminals use it to access illicit websites?”
The chilling effect on crypto developers based on the outcome of Storm’s case could set a dangerous precedent, particularly for those working on decentralized applications, privacy tools, and DeFi. The crypto industry has long relied on the principle that code is speech, protected under the First Amendment.
Tornado Cash: Innovation or Criminal Tool?
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Tornado Cash in 2022, citing its use by the North Korean hacking group Lazarus to launder stolen funds. Many argue that the platform was designed to provide privacy for ordinary crypto users—an increasingly scarce commodity in an era of mass surveillance. In a primer on Tornado Cash by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis in 2023, the dilemma of preserving privacy on a blockchain against the problems of money laundering is highlighted. The primer states, “Given the high degree of transparency on public ledgers, there certainly is a legitimate privacy use case for crypto asset mixers. However, there is also strong evidence that crypto asset mixers are being used for money laundering and to hide traces of illicit activities.”
During his campaign, President Donald Trump positioned himself as pro-crypto, openly embracing Bitcoin and pledging to roll back hostile regulations. In the first week of his administration, Trump signed an executive order on digital assets to review crypto regulations, chaired by David Sacks, his ‘crypto czar’ in the White House. However, Storm’s case raises a critical question: Will a pro-Trump crypto policy extend to protecting developers who build crypto infrastructure?
It is not yet clear what Trump’s stance is on financial privacy. While his administration might loosen regulatory burdens on cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, it remains unclear whether privacy tools like Tornado Cash would receive the same leniency. Storm’s prosecution began under Biden, but will Trump intervene?
Storm heads to court in April 2025, and the trial will be a pivotal moment for crypto regulation. Last week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed an amicus brief on behalf of Storm, arguing that his prosecution threatens the rights of software developers and open-source contributors. Additionally, Paradigm donated $1.25 million to Storm’s legal defense, signaling growing industry concern over the case.
The High-Profile Criminal Defense Lawyer Defending Storm
Storm’s defense team is being led by Brian Klein, a high-profile criminal defense and regulatory attorney at Waymaker LLP. For many years now, Klein has represented notable crypto figures, including Erik Voorhees, founder of ShapeShift, and Arthur Hayes, founder of BitMEX. Klein negotiated a settlement with the SEC for Voorhees and helped reduce Hayes’ sentence in a high-profile case.
This is not Klein’s first trial involving cryptocurrency and sanctions either. He defended Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum developer against North Korea sanctions charges. Griffith ultimately pled guilty and was sentenced to over five years in prison and fined $100,000 for aiding North Korea in evading sanctions through cryptocurrency. However, Storm’s case is different—he built the Tornado Cash protocol, which was later misused by North Korea. The distinction raises important questions about developer liability and intent.
If convicted, some argue this could drive developers away from U.S. jurisdiction, pushing crypto innovation offshore. If acquitted, it could affirm that writing open-source code is not a crime and set an important precedent for the industry. For now, Storm remains in legal limbo, a test case for the future of crypto freedom. His final thoughts? “I just want to build. That’s what I’ve always done. If we criminalize builders, we’re not just killing crypto—we’re killing the future,” said Storm.
