TL;DR
- Verdict: Roman Storm was convicted on the charge of unlicensed money transmitting after four days of jury deliberations in the Southern District of New York, while other counts were declared a mistrial.
- Charges: Jurors deadlocked on conspiracy to commit money laundering and sanctions violations, prompting a mistrial on those counts and potential retrial decisions.
- Next Steps: Sentencing is scheduled in the coming weeks, with up to five years possible, as the case highlights the tension between privacy tools and regulation.
Roman Storm, co-founder of privacy protocol Tornado Cash, faces an uncertain future after a Manhattan jury delivered its verdict. Jurors in the Southern District of New York determined that Roman Storm was guilty of conspiring to run an unlicensed money-transmitting operation. The decision followed four days of deliberations and a trial that raised complex questions about responsibility and financial privacy.
Judge: Let me see it…
Deputy: Mr. Foreperson, Count 1, how do you find?
Foreperson: Not unanimous.
Deputy 2: Count 2?
Foreperson: Guilty.
Deputy: Count 3, IEEPA?
Foreperson: Not guilty.— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) August 6, 2025
Guilty Verdict Delivered by Manhattan Jury
The jury convicted Roman Storm on the second count of his 2023 indictment, focusing on the unlicensed transfer of digital assets. Prosecutors argued that Tornado Cash processed over $1 billion in illicit transactions and that Roman Storm declined to modify the code to block criminal activity. Those arguments persuaded a majority of jurors, resulting in a felony conviction that carries up to five years in prison.
Counts Left Unresolved After Deliberations
Jurors reached a consensus on the money transmission charge, but they were unable to come to an agreement on two other counts: conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to breach sanctions against North Korea. Judge Katherine Failla provided a special instruction encouraging the jury to achieve a unanimous verdict, yet they ultimately could not settle on the other charges. Those counts were declared a mistrial, leaving prosecutors to consider whether to pursue a retrial.
Potential Penalties and Upcoming Hearing
Storm now faces a sentencing hearing scheduled in the coming weeks. With a maximum term of five years under federal law, the final outcome will depend on factors such as his role in the business, public safety, and legal precedent. Judge Failla has noted similar significant high-profile crypto cases in the same court, suggesting her sentence may reflect broader concerns about digital asset regulation.
Defense and Support From Crypto Backers
Throughout the trial, Storm’s legal team called expert witnesses, including Ethereum core developer Preston Van Loon and NAXO co-founder Matthew Edman, to argue that Tornado Cash functioned as open-source software independent of individual control.
Supporters donated over $3 million to his defense fund, with notable contributions from Vitalik Buterin, Paradigm’s Matt Huang, and the Ethereum Foundation. As Storm prepares to appeal, the crypto community remains sharply divided over the verdict’s impact on privacy tools.
