Roman Storm, co-founder of the crypto mixing protocol Tornado Cash, has been found guilty on one count of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business in a split jury decision. The jury was deadlocked on more serious charges of money laundering and sanctions violations related to his alleged facilitation of over $1B in laundering for North Korea's Lazarus Group. Storm's attorney maintains his actions were intended to protect financial privacy. The verdict sets a precedent for future cases involving crypto developers and privacy tools, though a retrial is anticipated. Storm's guilty count carries a possible sentence, but he remains free pending further legal proceedings. This case reflects the ongoing tension between innovation in crypto development and regulatory frameworks, highlighting the challenges faced by developers in ensuring their tools are not misused while advocating for financial privacy. With the possibility of retrials and appeals, the outcome may significantly impact the environment for privacy-centric development in the U.S.

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