The Department of Justice (DOJ) continues the prosecution of Roman Storm despite partially dropping a charge related to being registered as a ‘money transmitter,’ citing a recent clarification of regulatory gray areas.
The DOJ maintains the trial of Tornado Cash developer
The US Department of Justice has confirmed that it will proceed with the trial of Tornado Cash developer, Roman Storm, despite a partial revision of the charges. A symbolic step back, but far from indicating the case’s abandonment. The trial, scheduled for July, remains on.
One charge dropped, three accusations upheld
Under pressure from a memo signed by Deputy Prosecutor Todd Blanche on April 7, the DOJ decided to withdraw part of a charge, the one related to the lack of registration as a “money transmitter.” This decision follows an internal directive calling for no longer pursuing cases based on regulatory gray areas.
But the core of the case remains intact. Roman Storm will be tried for knowingly transmitting funds related to criminal activities, for money laundering conspiracy, and for violation of international sanctions. Three serious accusations that the administration persists in considering fully compliant with the Blanche memo.
A trial under tension for the crypto ecosystem
Storm’s defense is not backing down. Brian Klein, from Waymaker LLP, spoke at Consensus 2025 in Toronto, denouncing a case that should never have existed. For him, the prosecution against Roman Storm sets a dangerous precedent:
His charge threatens the entire crypto industry. The best outcome for justice would be a complete abandonment of the case.
Klein also invokes a fundamental argument: the right to freedom of speech. “In the United States, coding is a protected activity, just like writing a book,” he recalled. A line of defense that could make history in a context where open source developers are increasingly coming under scrutiny from authorities.
It’s like writing a book or engaging in another form of expressive activity.
The DOJ balancing political pressure and legal oversight
The Blanche memo has already frozen another similar case, that of the creators of Samourai Wallet. It underscores a change in approach by the ministry: no more prosecutions based on regulatory ambiguity. But in Storm’s case, the DOJ believes that the facts are sufficiently established to justify a trial.
This case promises to be a highly symbolic legal showdown. At the intersection of technical, legal, and political issues, the trial of Roman Storm could redefine the boundaries of developers’ responsibility in the decentralized ecosystem.
