Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm issued a stark warning regarding the upcoming trial, stating that if he loses, decentralized finance (DeFi) could be permanently damaged. He faces charges from the Department of Justice, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitter business, due to his role in running Tornado Cash, which is a platform used for anonymizing cryptocurrency transactions. This platform has garnered controversy for its usage in illicit activities but is also vital for privacy in the cryptocurrency space. Storm argues that his prosecution sets a dangerous precedent, as it holds software developers accountable for how their technology is utilized. Despite a shift in the Trump administration's approach to digital assets, which seemed to signal potential leniency toward crypto-related prosecutions, Storm’s case proceeded. He received support from the Ethereum Foundation, which pledged to aid his legal defense, emphasizing that privacy in financial transactions should be upheld. Storm's comments reflect a broader concern among DeFi advocates that legal actions against developers could undermine the foundational principles of decentralized finance.

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