News

Roman Storm Trial: Jury Fails to Reach Verdict on Money Laundering Charge

The jury in the Roman Storm Trial failed to reach a verdict on money laundering and sanction charges, but found him guilty of a third charge.
Published by
Roman Storm Trial: Jury Fails to Reach Verdict on Money Laundering Charge

Highlights

  • The jury was undecided about the money laundering and sanctions violations charges.
  • Meanwhile, they found the Tornado Cash co-founder guilty of the money transmitting charge.
  • The prosecutors can choose the retry or dismiss the charges which the jury failed to reach a verdict on.
  • Roman Storm faces up to five years for his conviction on the money transmitting charge.

The Roman Storm trial has reached a crucial point, with the jury failing to reach a verdict on two charges. Meanwhile, the Tornado Cash co-founder was found guilty of a money transmitting charge, which carries a sentence of up to five years.

Advertisement

Jury Remains Undecided On Two Charges In Roman Storm Trial

According to Inner City Press, the jury said that there was no unanimity on the charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and violate North Korea sanctions. Meanwhile, it found the Tornado Cash co-founder guilty of conspiracy to run an unlicensed money transmittal business (the 1960 charge).

This follows recent reports that the U.S. DoJ was weighing bringing charges against crypto VC firm Dragonfly, which has invested in Tornado Cash. Following the verdict, journalist Eleanor Terrett also gave a rundown of what this verdict in the Roman Storm trial means.

Citing Storm’s lawyer Keri Axel, she noted that the money transmitting conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years. Meanwhile, the jury’s failure to reach a verdict on the other two charges means that the prosecutors can either choose to retry or dismiss the Roman Storm case.

Following the jury’s decision, Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who is overseeing the trial, denied the government’s motion to remand the Tornado Cash co-founder to jail.

She explained that there is a lot of fighting left in the case before sentencing, and that she believes Roman Storm will fight it. The U.S. prosecutors have yet to state what their next course of action in the case would be.

Advertisement

The Tornado Cash Co-founder Comments on Verdict

Roman Storm spoke to Terrett following the verdict in his case. The Tornado Cash co-founder remarked that the jury’s failure to reach a verdict is a big win and that he plans to fight the 1960 charge all the way.

He referenced Donald Trump’s ‘fight, fight, fight’ statement and said that he plans to do the same. His statement indicates that he will likely appeal the money transmitting charge. Meanwhile, Storm expressed relief at not having to remain in jail following the partial verdict.

Members of the crypto community have commented on what the money transmitting conviction in the Roman Storm trial could mean for decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.

Ryan Adams of Bankless opined that the verdict means that crypto, DeFi, and privacy developers are still at risk. He added that the risk is higher now as a result of the precedent that the court has laid.

He added that it is unlikely that the DOJ will hunt down further privacy developers under the Trump administration. However, Adams claimed that the chilling effect is still very high for DeFi and crypto and that this verdict makes it slightly worse.

The Blockchain Association urged Roman Storm to appeal the money transmitting conviction and declared that they are ready to support the effort. The DeFi Education Fund also declared support for the Tornado Cash co-founder, stating that they will be behind him as he fights the 1960 charge conviction and appeals it to the Second Circuit.

Advertisement
Share
Boluwatife Adeyemi

Boluwatife Adeyemi is a well-experienced crypto news writer and editor with a focus on macro topics, crypto policy and regulation and the intersection between DeFi and TradFi. He has a knack for simplifying the most technical concepts and making them easy for crypto newbies to understand. Boluwatife is also a lawyer, who holds a law degree from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a certification in Digital Marketing. Away from writing, he is an avid basketball lover, a traveler, and a part-time degen.

Published by
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.

Recent Posts

  • News

$7B Virtu Financial Holds $63M XRP as Whales Accelerate Daily Sell-Off

Virtu Financial, a $7 billion Wall Street firm, has revealed $63 million in XRP holdings.…

November 1, 2025
  • News

Breaking: Coinbase Nears $2B Deal to Buy Stablecoin Platform BVNK

Coinbase is reportedly closing in on a $2 billion acquisition of stablecoin infrastructure startup BVNK.…

November 1, 2025
  • News

Coinbase CLO Fires Back at Senator Murphy Over ‘Corruption Factory’ Claim

Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, has publicly criticized U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. The lawmaker…

November 1, 2025
  • News

Crypto Prices Rise: Why Are BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, SHIB, and ADA Up Today?

Major crypto prices saw solid gains after a week of downturns. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP,…

November 1, 2025
  • News

Michael Saylor’s Strategy Eyes S&P 500 Spot Amid Bitcoin-Backed Credit Products Launch

Michael Saylor’s Strategy is setting its sights on the S&P 500 as it pushes forward…

October 31, 2025
  • News

Bitcoin White Paper Turns 17 Today as Satoshi’s $120B Fortune Climbs $2.8 Billion

Seventeen years ago today, Satoshi Nakamoto emailed a nine-page document that changed the world. It…

October 31, 2025