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The legal defense fund for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm has seen significant growth following Wednesday's partial verdict in his high-profile case. The Ethereum Foundation announced Thursday it would match up to $500,000 in donations to Storm's defense fund as preparations begin for a potential retrial on money laundering and sanctions violation charges.
Jurors found Storm guilty of operating an unlicensed money transmitter but remained deadlocked on two other counts. Legal experts warn this outcome could set a dangerous precedent for open-source developers. "Mistrials by hung juries don't trigger double jeopardy protections," noted Brandon Ferrick of Douro Labs, indicating prosecutors could retry the unresolved charges.
Attorneys speculate whether the Department of Justice will pursue a retrial, with opinions divided along political lines. Aaron Brogan, a defense attorney following the case, observed: "While the current administration has taken a lighter regulatory approach to crypto, they've maintained aggressive enforcement actions." The defense team is expected to appeal the guilty verdict regardless of retrial decisions.
Storm's legal team faces mounting costs, having requested $1.5 million in donations last month. The recent verdict has galvanized support from privacy advocates and cryptocurrency proponents alike. ——Industry analysts suggest this case could shape future regulatory approaches to decentralized finance technologies——
Legal experts anticipate Storm will challenge the money transmitter conviction, which Ferrick called "extremely controversial." The appeals process may take years but could establish important precedents for 【cryptocurrency regulation】 and 【developer liability】. As of press time, the defense fund had raised approximately $750,000, with donations accelerating after this week's developments.