In the trial of Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, the defense concluded calling witnesses without Storm taking the stand. He faces charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The defense argues that Storm is not criminally responsible for the protocol's use. Key witnesses included: Guy Wuollet from a16z crypto, who expressed admiration for Tornado Cash’s privacy yet cited profitability concerns for investment; Omid Malekan, who utilized the protocol for personal privacy; and Dr. Stephanie Hurder, who countered claims of a lack of decentralization in Tornado Cash's governance. Hurder's testimony revealed the methodical distribution of tokens but acknowledged that some criminal activity involved the protocol. Dr. Matthew Green, a computer science professor, spoke to the importance of privacy in blockchain transactions. As closing arguments approached, the trial showcased diverging views on the implications of the technology, focusing on the balance between privacy and misuse.

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