Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s retrial delayed to April 2027

Retrial postponed by nearly eight months

A U.S. federal court has delayed the retrial of Roman Storm, a co-founder of the crypto mixing service Tornado Cash, until April 26, 2027. The decision was made by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla on August 25, 2026. A final pretrial conference is scheduled for April 20, 2027.

Storm was previously convicted in August 2025 on one count of money transmitting but the jury did not reach a verdict on two other charges: money laundering and sanctions evasion. Prosecutors sought a retrial for those unresolved charges, which could carry a maximum sentence of 40 years if he is found guilty.

Key details of the case

• The retrial was originally planned for October 2026 but has now been pushed to April 2027.
• Storm’s legal team filed a motion for acquittal in September 2025, which remains undecided.
• The case involves accusations that Tornado Cash helped launder over $1 billion in illicit funds.
• A crypto mixer is a service that lets users hide the origin of their digital money by mixing it with other transactions.

Judge’s order and next steps

The court order sets the retrial date for April 26, 2027, at the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse in New York. Storm’s lawyers have argued that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a copyright case could apply to his situation. The ruling found that an internet service provider should not be held responsible for how some customers used its service.

Storm has publicly stated that the case is not just about him but about setting an example. He also pointed out that Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm that assisted the government in building its case, previously operated as a relayer for Tornado Cash. A relayer is a third-party service that helps users withdraw funds while keeping their addresses private.

What is confirmed

• The retrial date is officially set for April 26, 2027.
• Storm was convicted of one count of money transmitting in August 2025.
• The jury did not reach a verdict on the charges of money laundering and sanctions evasion.
• Prosecutors are pursuing a retrial for the unresolved charges.

What remains unclear

• The court has not yet decided on Storm’s motion for acquittal, filed in September 2025.
• It is unknown how the recent Supreme Court ruling might impact the case.
• No official statement has been made on Storm’s claim about Chainalysis’s past role as a relayer.

Why this case matters

The outcome of Storm’s retrial could set a precedent for how developers of crypto services are held accountable for how their tools are used. Crypto mixers like Tornado Cash are often used to increase privacy, but they have also been linked to illegal activities. The case raises questions about whether developers should be responsible for how others use their software.

Sources

• The Block