Tornado Cash Trial Takes a Turn as Roman Storm's Lawyers Mull Mistrial
Roman Storm's lawyers are considering a mistrial due to perceived irrelevance in witness testimonies regarding the privacy protocol Tornado Cash. The defense argued that on-chain evidence contradicts claims made by Hanfeng Lin, who testified about losing $250,000 in a scam and suggested her funds passed through Tornado Cash. Storm's legal team stated they found no evidence linking Lin's funds to Tornado Cash. The trial has garnered attention for its implications on coders' legal responsibilities and privacy technologies. Storm faces serious charges, including operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and conspiracy to launder money, with a potential 45-year prison sentence. Blockchain experts have supported the defense's claims, questioning the legitimacy of the recovery service Payback. The prosecution plans to present further evidence linking Lin's funds to Tornado Cash. Judge Katherine Polk Failla expressed concern over communication issues in the case.
