The prosecutor requested the confiscation of a property worth $3.1 million and a Tesla belonging to the co-founder of Tornado Cash
ChainCatcher news, according to DL News, U.S. prosecutors are seeking to confiscate two properties belonging to Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm (valued at a total of $3.1 million) and a Tesla Model Y, claiming these assets are derived from illegal proceeds.
Tornado Cash has gained significant attention for concealing crypto transactions but has also been exploited by criminals for money laundering. In 2022, the U.S. imposed sanctions against it. This year, Storm has been charged with three counts, including money laundering and violating sanctions, while another developer, Alexi Pertsev, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Storm's team cited freedom of speech as a defense, but the judge dismissed the request. Crypto privacy advocates strongly oppose this, arguing that developers should not be held responsible for the misuse of their tools. Storm's trial has been postponed until April next year, with defense costs estimated to reach up to $500,000 per month.