DOJ Opposes Retrial for Roman Storm, Tornado Cash Co-Founder
- The DOJ will not pursue a retrial for Roman Storm.
- Brian Galeotti’s remarks indicate no criminal liability for code contribution.
- ETH’s association with Tornado Cash faces scrutiny post-verdict.
The U.S. Department of Justice opposes a retrial for Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, signaling a shift in prosecution approach, as noted at the American Innovation Project summit.
This opposition underscores evolving legal stances on code contributions and could influence privacy tool development, while prompting discussions on ethical coding practices within the cryptocurrency community.
The US DOJ opposes a retrial for Roman Storm following his partial conviction, as articulated by Brian Galeotti at a public summit.
The decision impacts the crypto sector, indicating a focus on intent in open-source contributions, with no immediate market changes for ETH noted.
DOJ Confirms No Retrial for Tornado Cash Co-Founder
Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, was partially convicted in August 2025. The US Department of Justice signaled opposition to a retrial, suggesting no criminal liability for merely contributing code.
Brian Galeotti explained at a summit that developers aren’t criminally liable if not intending to assist crimes. This positions the DOJ against retrying unresolved counts in Storm’s case.
Legal Experts Highlight Implications for Developers
The DOJ’s stance affects open-source developers, as noted by legal experts. The crypto community sees this as a precedent for privacy tools, reducing perceived legal risks.
Financial markets remain stable, with Ethereum assets still under scrutiny. Regulatory perspectives on technology-neutrality might influence future decisions about privacy-focused projects.
“If a developer merely contributes code to an open-source project without the specific intent to assist criminal conduct, aid or abet a particular crime, or join a criminal conspiracy, he or she is not criminally liable.” – Brian Galeotti
Past Case Comparisons Shed Light on Storm’s Outcome
A past case in 2024 involving Samourai Wallet developers saw similar charges. They pled guilty post a plea deal, contrasting Storm’s outcome, impacting privacy tools’ legal risk assessment.
The decision reflects a technology-neutral approach, potentially safeguarding future privacy protocol developments. Roman Storm’s case exemplifies evolving judicial perspectives on open-source contributions.
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