New York (Transatlantic Today) – In a legal twist, Roman Storm, the developer behind Tornado Cash, has taken a bold step by filing a motion seeking to dismiss a criminal indictment accusing him of money laundering conspiracy and violating sanctions. Storm’s arrest last year shook the crypto community, as his creation, Tornado Cash, allegedly became a tool exploited by groups like North Korean hackers for laundering activities.
According to Coindesk, However, Storm’s legal team asserts that he merely provided open-source code accessible to anyone and was not directly involved with these illicit groups. According to the motion filed on Friday, building Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency transfer concealment tool, does not equate to money laundering.
The motion delves into the technicalities of Tornado Cash, emphasizing its non-custodial nature and users’ autonomy over their assets. It argues against the portrayal of Tornado Cash as a mixer or service and challenges the notion of Storm’s control over its operations.
Furthermore, the filing contends that Storm couldn’t have conspired to launder funds or operate as a money transmitter without a formal entity for Tornado Cash, undermining the basis of the indictment. Drawing comparisons to a similar case involving Alexey Pertsev, another Tornado Cash developer currently facing trial, the motion highlights jurisdictional disparities in the charges.
Storm’s legal maneuver comes on the heels of preceding motions, including requests for specific evidence disclosure and attempts to thwart federal efforts to seize his cryptocurrency holdings. Amid mounting legal battles, Storm’s fate hangs in the balance as the crypto community watches closely for further developments in this high-profile case.
