Tornado Cash Co‑Founder Might Postpone Trial Due to Contested Hacker Testimony
Roman Storm, a co‑founder of Tornado Cash, could potentially postpone his trial date if an unexpected witness is permitted to testify. His legal counsel contends that this witness, a hacker who allegedly utilized the privacy network, was introduced too late and poses a significant risk to a fair trial. Should the court approve this testimony, Storm’s attorneys indicate they might require additional time to adapt.
Last-Minute Notice, Major Issue
The complication arose when prosecutors notified the defense of their intention to present a new witness after the court’s cutoff had lapsed. This witness is characterized as an individual who laundered money via Tornado Cash and may attempt to link that involvement to Storm. The defense rejects this. They assert that such testimony could unfairly influence a jury, depicting Storm as guilty by association.
Tornado Cash co-founder calls for trial delay due to unexpected witness testimony. Significant developments in the crypto landscape today—stay tuned for updates. #CryptoNews #TornadoCash #LegalNews
— ceanmedia (@cryptoceannews) July 11, 2025
The central concern is the timing and fairness involved. The defense argues they were taken by surprise and lack sufficient time to mount a proper counterargument. This could pave the way for a potential trial delay should the court decide to allow the hacker to testify.
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Higher Stakes
Storm is confronted with multiple allegations, such as operating an unlicensed money-transmitting enterprise, money laundering, and breaching U.S. sanctions. This case arises from the purported exploitation of Tornado Cash by criminals, including hackers affiliated with North Korea. While Storm maintains he developed a tool rather than a crime platform, prosecutors assert he facilitated unlawful activities by offering a protocol that could obscure the origins of funds.
This trial has emerged as a hot topic within the crypto community. Numerous developers and advocates for privacy perceive it as a pivotal moment. If Storm is found responsible for the actions of individuals misusing his code, it could establish a concerning precedent. Vitalik Buterin and other prominent figures in the crypto sphere have expressed their support for Storm, asserting that the case jeopardizes the legality of software development.
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Witnesses, Sanctions, and Legal Strategy
The heart of the current contention is whether the hacker’s testimony is necessary or excessively provocative. Prosecutors assert the hacker’s account is vital for demonstrating intent. Storm’s legal team contends that it could unduly prejudice the jury by appealing to emotions rather than facts.
Additionally, there’s contention regarding other elements of the case. For instance, the judge is still deliberating whether to accept references to the 2022 sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash. Those sanctions were subsequently rescinded, and the defense argues that mentioning them now could bewilder or mislead the jury.
Storm’s legal team is also striving to include distributed record specialists to clarify how the network functions and what Storm’s true involvement entailed. Without these experts, they maintain, the jury might end up with a skewed perspective.
Next Steps
The judge is anticipated to render decisions on the witness and sanctions evidence by week’s end. If the hacker is permitted to testify, Storm’s defense will likely request a brief postponement. If the court denies it, jury selection is likely to proceed as scheduled.
Regardless of the outcome, the trial is shaping up to be more than merely a legal dispute. It’s a litmus test for how the judicial system will handle developers creating privacy solutions in an era where the distinction between coding and crime is increasingly ambiguous.
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Essential Highlights
- Co-founder of Tornado Cash Roman Storm might pursue a trial delay due to a late-stage witness — a hacker — being allowed to testify.
- Storm’s defense argues that the unexpected witness breaches court timelines and could improperly influence the jury without sufficient time to prepare a response.
- The case revolves around whether Storm is accountable for the actions of others who used Tornado Cash, including sanctioned individuals such as hackers associated with North Korea.
- Storm’s defense contends that referencing rescinded sanctions or emotional testimonies could mislead jurors and distort the actual facts.
- The trial is under close scrutiny by the crypto community, with significant figures warning it may criminalize the development of open-source software.
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