Key Takeaways:
- Roman Storm urgently seeks $500K as trial costs for his Tornado Cash-related case climb to $3.5 million.
- Judge ruled the defense cannot reference withdrawn Treasury sanctions during the trial.
- The Ethereum Foundation pledged $500K and a $750K match, with $1.96M raised so far.
Roman Storm, co-founder of crypto mixer Tornado Cash, is urgently seeking $500,000 in donations just days before his criminal trial begins.
Facing charges of money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmission business, and violating U.S. sanctions, Storm could be sentenced to up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
Dear Crypto Community & Privacy Advocates,
— Roman Storm 🇺🇸 🌪️ (@rstormsf) July 12, 2025
This is an urgent call: My trial begins July 14, and we’re facing a critical shortfall. I need to raise $500K in the next few days and $1.5M within a couple of weeks to sustain our fight – covering escalating legal fees, expert… https://t.co/AImotqvJVD
He revealed that his legal defense costs have surged to $3.5 million – up from an earlier estimate of $2 million – due to the trial being extended to four weeks and the emergence of new witnesses and complex legal issues.
Storm’s defense argues the case is about protecting software development and treating code as free speech.
A recent attempt to delay the trial due to late disclosures from the prosecution was denied.
Judge Katherine Failla also ruled that the defense cannot reference the U.S. Treasury’s now-rescinded sanctions on Tornado Cash.
The crypto community has rallied behind Storm, with $1.96 million raised so far.
The Ethereum Foundation pledged $500,000 and will match community donations up to $750,000.
Donations are being made in Ether (ETH), which has recently seen a 2.9% price increase to around $3,030.
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