Tornado Cash’s Roman Storm makes urgent plea for $500K as trial looms

Key Points

1. Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, faces charges of money laundering and sanctions violations and is raising funds for his legal defense.

2. The total legal costs for Storm’s trial are estimated at $3.5 million, up from an initial projection of $2 million, due to complex legal arguments and unforeseen witnesses.

3. As of now, $1.96 million has been raised, which is 57% of the $3.5 million goal.

4. The Ethereum Foundation has pledged $500,000 and will match community donations up to $750,000 to support Storm’s legal defense.

5. Judge Katherine Failla, overseeing the trial, ruled that the US Treasury’s sanctions against Tornado Cash, which were withdrawn in March, cannot be mentioned in the trial.