DOJ Rejects Tornado Cash Co-founder's Motion to Dismiss Criminal Charges

The US Department of Justice (DOJ), led by prosecutors from the Southern District of New York (SDNY), has officially rejected the defense arguments presented by Roman Storm, the co-founder of Tornado Cash, in his bid to dismiss criminal charges. Federal prosecutors asserted that the legal precedents cited by the defense team are irrelevant to the specific allegations of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The SDNY team is now pushing for a trial date in October to proceed with the case involving money laundering and international sanctions violations. Furthermore, a crucial hearing is scheduled for later this week to specifically address the motion to dismiss the charges. The DOJ maintains that Tornado Cash’s activities fall directly within existing criminal statutes, despite claims of government overreach by the defense. This firm stance underscores the ongoing regulatory crackdown on decentralized privacy protocols, which could set a significant precedent for the future of the DeFi sector.