Tornado Cash co‑founder appeals for $500K ahead of trial

Roman Storm, co‑creator of Ethereum mixer Tornado Cash, has issued a direct appeal on X (formerly Twitter), urgently requesting $500,000. He’s seeking financial aid to fund his legal defense as his trial begins July 14, 2025.

Roman faces charges of conspiracy related to money laundering, sanctions violations, and operating an unlicensed money‑transmitting business. If convicted, Storm could face up to 45 years in prison.

Speaking about the case, Storm wrote on X: “The DOJ wants to bury DeFi, saying I should’ve controlled it, added KYC, never built it. SDNY is trying to crush me, blocking every expert witness. If I lose, DeFi dies with me. The dream of financial freedom, the code I believed in—it all fades into darkness. I’m fighting, but the weight is unbearable. This isn’t just my end; it’s ours.”

This plea continues a broader fundraising initiative that has already garnered significant support. In June, the Ethereum Foundation pledged $500,000 with matching funds up to $750,000. Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin and Paradigm founder Matt Huang have also contributed, along with community donations through freeromanstorm.com and platforms raising more than $2.5 million in ETH.

Storm’s legal strategy centers on defending open‑source code as free speech under the First Amendment. His supporters argue that he merely published immutable software and did not control user transactions. Advocacy groups such as Coin Center, Blockchain Association, and the DeFi Education Fund have backed this stance.

Key pre‑trial rulings include Judge Failla’s decision to exclude references to Tornado Cash’s defunct 2022 OFAC sanctions. Prosecutors will go on to present allegations tying Storm to over $1 billion laundered in the past, including funds linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group.

The court battle holds significance, as it will set precedent for other cases fighting for financial privacy, DeFi’s future, and the rights of open‑source developers in the U.S.