The US Department of Justice has announced that it will be dropping one count in its case against Roman Storm, the developer of Tornado Cash, due to a recent policy memo. However, the agency still plans to proceed with the trial in July, focusing on allegations that Storm knowingly transmitted funds tied to criminal activities, conspired to commit money laundering, and conspired to violate sanctions law. This decision was made after reviewing the April 7, 2025 memo by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which advised against pursuing cases with unclear regulations. Despite this, the prosecution believes the case aligns with the memo's guidelines and will continue.
The defense, on the other hand, argues that the case should be dismissed, citing the Trump Administration's policies and the Department of Justice's cryptocurrency guidance memo. They also claim that coding is a form of free speech and should be protected as such.