US DOJ fit try Roman Storm case again over money wash and sanctions
US Department of Justice dey consider to do another trial for Tornado Cash co-developer Roman Storm after recent trial end for hung jury for main charges. Storm na only get conviction for conspiracy to run unlicensed money transmission business for Section 1960, but jury no gree for conspiracy for money laundering and conspiring to break North Korea sanctions. Law experts talk say second trial still fit happen, so money laundering and sanctions charges still dey on table. Lawyers warn say this case fit set wide precedent for DeFi, as prosecutors dey use federal money transmitter laws take come against decentralized protocols. The wide reach of Section 1960 na big threat to open-source developers and DeFi platforms. Privacy advocates happy sey heavy jail time for unresolved charges don pause, but if DOJ move for retrial for Roman Storm, crypto industry go face fresh regulation wahala. Final decision go depend on how dem see chance for conviction, political matter and market impact.
Bearish
The chance say Roman Storm get another trial dey keep regulatory uncertainty high, and dis one dey usually make DeFi tokens generally weak. Historically, law actions against privacy protocols—like the 2022 OFAC sanctions on Tornado Cash—trigger quick sell-offs for related tokens. If the DOJ come again with money laundering and sanctions charges, traders fit cut down exposure to governance tokens and mixing services because enforcement risk high. Short term, market people go likely take risk-off attitude, push DeFi assets down. Long-term effect depend on case outcome: if acquittal, confidence fit restore, but renewed conviction go show say regulators dey tight and innovation go slow down. Broader crypto markets fit get small spillover, but main impact go focus on privacy-focused and compliance-sensitive protocols.