Tornado Cash Co-Founder Seeks Delay in Trial Amid Witness Testimony Dispute
The upcoming criminal trial of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm may face a brief delay as his lawyers signal their intention to request more time if a judge allows testimony from a hacker who allegedly used the platform, according to recent court filings.
Storm’s defense team has filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to exclude an unnamed witness who is described as the perpetrator of an alleged hack that involved laundering funds through the Ethereum-based mixer to conceal trails. The defense argues that allowing this witness to testify would be unfairly prejudicial and could mislead jurors into believing that Storm was involved in the hack or intended to facilitate it, which they maintain is not true.
The defense further expressed concerns that the testimony could provoke an emotional response from jurors, potentially impacting their perception of the defendant. If the court denies the motion to exclude the witness, Storm’s attorneys have reserved the right to seek a continuance.
Storm’s trial is currently scheduled to commence on July 14, nearly two years after he was indicted on charges including money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter, and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions. The judge is expected to rule on the witness motions by the end of the week.
Federal prosecutors have identified several witnesses as “victims” of crimes facilitated by Tornado Cash. Storm, in a social media post in June, expressed frustration at the legal proceedings, stating that the authorities were attempting to “crush” him and suggesting that the future of decentralized finance (DeFi) could be at stake.
Despite the challenges he faces, Storm has garnered significant support from the cryptocurrency community, with influential figures such as Paradigm founder Matt Huang, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and the Ethereum Foundation rallying behind him. Supporters have contributed to his legal defense fund and have argued that creating software code should not be grounds for criminal prosecution.
One of Storm’s co-founders, Alexey Pertsev, was sentenced to over five years in prison in the Netherlands in 2024 for money laundering. Another co-founder named in Storm’s indictment, Roman Semenov, remains at large, with reports suggesting he may be in hiding in Russia.
Storm’s trial is set to begin with jury selection on Monday under the oversight of Judge Katherine Failla.
In conclusion, the legal battle surrounding Tornado Cash and its co-founder Roman Storm continues to unfold, with the outcome potentially impacting the broader cryptocurrency community. Stay tuned for further updates as the trial progresses.