In a significant development in the ongoing case against Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, U.S. federal prosecutors have filed a motion to bar his expert witnesses from testifying in court.
The prosecutors described these witnesses as “Trojan horses,” claiming their testimonies could mislead jurors and waste valuable court time.
According to court filings cited by Protos, the prosecution argues that Storm’s experts could confuse the jury on complex issues such as token economics.
Also, Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, and privacy practices, areas central are key to the defense’s argument that Tornado Cash operates as a decentralized protocol rather than a criminal enterprise.
Prosecution Resists Defense’s Request for More Time
Roman Storm’s legal team now faces an uphill battle in preparing its defense after prosecutors submitted a large body of documentation aiming to dismiss eight of Storm’s planned legal arguments.
Despite the extensive volume of material to review, prosecutors opposed the defense’s request for even a modest two-day extension to respond.
It is simultaneously reserved the right to seek their own extension if the defense was granted one.
The aggressive legal posture underscores the tension in the courtroom and reflects the high-stakes nature of a case that could set major precedents for decentralized finance (DeFi) and open-source development.
DOJ Drops One Charge but Retains Core Allegation
In a partial shift, the U.S. Department of Justice has dropped its “unlicensed money transmission” charge against Storm and has ceased referring to Tornado Cash as a “financial institution.”
The decision reportedly follows allegations that the government withheld exculpatory evidence from FinCEN, the U.S. agency responsible for financial crimes enforcement.
However, the more serious charge of money laundering remains.
These adjustments reveal evolving legal tactics and reflect the complexities of applying legacy financial laws to decentralized blockchain systems.
Storm’s trial is set to begin on July 14 in New York, and the case is now being viewed as a litmus test for how the U.S. legal system treats blockchain developers.
Also Read: Developer of Tornado Cash, Alexey Pertsev, Granted Release Ahead of Appeal
Ethereum Foundation and Community Rally Behind Storm
As the legal battle intensifies, Roman Storm has received public backing from both the Ethereum Foundation and broader crypto community members.
The Ethereum Foundation has pledged $500,000 toward his legal defense and committed to matching up to $750,000 in additional community donations.
The show of support is driven by the principle that writing open-source code should not be treated as a criminal act.
Supporters argue that privacy is a fundamental right and that prosecuting developers for tools they’ve created sets a dangerous precedent for innovation in the blockchain space.
“If I Lose, DeFi Dies with Me” — A Pivotal Moment for Crypto Privacy
Roman Storm has framed the trial as a critical moment not only for his own freedom but for the future of decentralized finance.
In a recent public statement, he warned, “If I lose, DeFi dies with me. The dream of financial freedom, the code I believed in, it all fades into darkness.”
As the trial approaches, legal analysts, crypto developers, and privacy advocates are watching closely.
The outcome could determine whether builders in the blockchain ecosystem can be held criminally liable for how their open-source protocols are used, even when they have no control over end users.
The case represents a flashpoint in the ongoing global debate over privacy, censorship resistance, and government oversight in the crypto world.
Also Read: DOJ Drops Part of Tornado Cash Case as Trump-Era Crypto Leniency Grows