Roman Storm, co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash, was convicted by a Manhattan federal jury on August 6, 2025, for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The jury deadlocked on more serious charges of money laundering and sanctions evasion related to North Korea, resulting in no verdict on those counts. The trial, closely watched by the crypto industry, highlighted tensions between the promise of privacy-enhancing digital assets and regulatory concerns over criminal misuse. U.S. prosecutors emphasized the need to prevent illicit activity despite the potential benefits of stablecoins and other digital assets. Legal experts and industry observers noted that the government failed to prove the most serious charges, with calls for the Department of Justice to dismiss the contested Section 1960 charge. Storm faces up to five years in prison. The case has sparked debate over the application of unlicensed money transmission laws to open-source software developers and the broader implications for crypto compliance and regulatory policy under the current administration. A detailed account of the trial and verdict is available in the newly released book and audiobook "Crypto Storm Verdict: US v. Roman Storm Part 1," covering the defense case, closing arguments, and jury deliberations.