In the upcoming trial of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla has ruled that any mention of the Van Loon v. Treasury case is prohibited. The ruling stems from concerns that referencing the Van Loon decision, which involved the classification of immutable smart contracts, could confuse jurors and distract from the trial's focus on Storm's alleged crimes, including money laundering and sanctions evasion. The trial is set to begin on July 14 in Manhattan. The judge emphasized that while the Van Loon case holds significance for crypto privacy advocates, it does not directly pertain to criminal liability, which is central to Storm's case. Prosecutors argue that Storm's actions post-sanction provide evidence of willful involvement in unlawful activities, despite the recent lifting of sanctions against Tornado Cash. The outcome of this trial has implications for the broader legal landscape regarding the accountability of software developers in the cryptocurrency space, especially as discussions about privacy and security regulations continue to evolve.

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