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

Roman Storm’s retrial pushed back to April 2027

The retrial of Roman Storm, co-founder and developer of the cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash, has been delayed from October 2026 to April 26, 2027. The postponement was ordered by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla as she considers Storm’s pending motion for acquittal.

Storm’s legal team requested the delay on August 3, stating they needed at least 90 days after the court rules on the acquittal motion to prepare for the retrial. Prosecutors opposed the adjournment, according to court filings.

Why the retrial was scheduled

In March 2026, U.S. prosecutors asked the court to schedule a retrial on two charges after a jury failed to reach unanimous verdicts. The charges involved conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions. Tornado Cash is a service that allows users to mix cryptocurrency transactions to increase privacy, but it has been linked to illicit activities.

In August 2025, a Manhattan jury convicted Storm of conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business, a charge that carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Storm later filed a motion asking the court to acquit him on all three charges, arguing that prosecutors failed to prove he intended to help criminals misuse Tornado Cash.

Key details of the case

• The retrial was originally set for October 26, 2026, but has been postponed to April 26, 2027.
• Storm’s legal team requested a 90-day preparation period after the court rules on his acquittal motion.
• Prosecutors opposed the delay, according to court documents.
• Storm was convicted in August 2025 of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
• He faces two additional charges: conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions.

What Storm’s legal team argues

Storm’s lawyers contend that prosecutors did not prove he intended to assist criminals in using Tornado Cash. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Storm said, “My acquittal motion is still sitting there, undecided. I honestly don’t know when this ends.”

What is confirmed

• The retrial has been officially postponed to April 26, 2027.
• Judge Katherine Polk Failla ordered the delay while considering Storm’s motion for acquittal.
• Storm was convicted in August 2025 of one charge but faces two additional charges.
• Prosecutors sought a retrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on two charges.

What remains unclear

• Whether the court will grant Storm’s motion for acquittal on all charges.
• The timeline for the court’s decision on the acquittal motion.
• The potential outcome of the retrial if the acquittal motion is denied.

Why this case matters

The case against Roman Storm is closely watched in the cryptocurrency community because it involves Tornado Cash, a privacy-focused tool that has been used by both legitimate users and criminals. The outcome could set a precedent for how developers of privacy tools are held accountable for the misuse of their services.

Sources

• Cointelegraph